Noninvasive Diagnosis of Esophageal Varices: Is It Feasible?

Author: de Franchis, Roberto

Source: The American Journal of Gastroenterology, Volume 101, Number 11, November 2006 , pp. 2520-2522(3)

Buy & download fulltext article:

The full text article is not available for purchase.

The publisher only permits individual articles to be downloaded by subscribers.

Abstract:

The possibility of identifying cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices by noninvasive means is attractive, because it would allow for the restriction of the performance of screening endoscopy to patients at high risk of having varices. Over the years, several studies addressing this issue have been performed with little success. The recently proposed platelet count/spleen diameter ratio appears to be the best noninvasive predictor of esophageal varices developed so far. However, the available evidence is not yet sufficient to allow for the modification of the current policy of screening cirrhotic patients by endoscopy at the time of diagnosis to detect varices.

(Am J Gastroenterol 2006;101:2520-2522)

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00880.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; and Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy

Publication date: 2006-11-01