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Caput medusae

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Caput medusae
Classification and external resources
Axial CT showing portosystemic collateral circulation via the umbilical vein: caput medusae in liver cirrhosis
ICD-10	I 86.8 (ILDS I86.820)
ICD-9	456.8

Caput medusae is the appearance of distended and engorged paraumbilical veins, which are seen radiating from the umbilicus across the abdomen to join systemic veins. The name caput medusae (Latin for "head of Medusa") originates from the apparent similarity to Medusa's hair once Athena had turned it into snakes^{citation needed}.

The umbilical vein carries oxygenated blood from mother to fetus in utero, and normally closes within one week of birth. In portal hypertension, the umbilical vein can become re-canalized.

1 Differential diagnosis
- 1.1 Inferior vena cava obstruction
  - 1.1.1 How to differentiate
2 See also
3 References

Differential diagnosis

Inferior vena cava obstruction

Produces abdominal collateral veins to bypass the blocked inferior vena cava and permit venous return from the legs.

How to differentiate

Determine the direction of flow in the veins below the umbilicus. After pushing down on the prominent vein, blood will:

Caput Medusae - flow is towards the legs
Inferior vena cava obstruction - flow is towards the head.

References

Cardiovascular disease: vascular disease · Circulatory system pathology (I70–I99, 440–456)

Arteries, arterioles
and capillaries

Inflammation

Arteritis (Aortitis) · Buerger's disease

Arterial occlusive disease/
peripheral vascular disease

Arteriosclerosis	Atherosclerosis (Foam cell, Fatty streak, Atheroma, Intermittent claudication) · Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis · Arteriolosclerosis (Hyaline, Hyperplastic, oxycholesterol, cholesterol, LDL, trans fat)

Stenosis	Renal artery stenosis · Carotid artery stenosis

Other	Fibromuscular dysplasia · Degos disease · Aortoiliac occlusive disease · Raynaud's phenomenon/Raynaud's disease · Erythromelalgia

Aneurysm/dissection/
pseudoaneurysm

torso: Aortic aneurysm (Thoracic aortic aneurysm, Abdominal aortic aneurysm) · Aortic dissection · Coronary artery aneurysm

head/neck: Cerebral aneurysm · Intracranial berry aneurysm · Carotid artery dissection · Vertebral artery dissection · Familial aortic dissection

Vascular malformation

Arteriovenous malformation · Arteriovenous fistula · Telangiectasia (Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia)

Vascular nevus

Spider angioma · Halo nevus · Cherry hemangioma

Veins

Inflammation	Phlebitis

Venous thrombosis/ Thrombophlebitis	primarily lower limb (Deep vein thrombosis) abdomen (Hepatic veno-occlusive disease, Budd–Chiari syndrome, May-Thurner syndrome, Portal vein thrombosis, Renal vein thrombosis) upper limb/torso (Paget-Schroetter disease, Mondor's disease) head (Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) Post-thrombotic syndrome

Varicose veins	Varicocele · Gastric varices · Portacaval anastomosis (Hemorrhoid, Esophageal varices, Caput medusae)

Other	Superior vena cava syndrome · Inferior vena cava syndrome · Venous ulcer · Chronic venous insufficiency · Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency

Arteries or veins

Vasculitis · Thrombosis · Embolism (Pulmonary embolism, Cholesterol embolism, Paradoxical embolism) · Angiopathy (Macroangiopathy, Microangiopathy)

Blood pressure

Hypertension	Hypertensive heart disease · Hypertensive nephropathy · Essential hypertension · Secondary hypertension (Renovascular hypertension) · Pulmonary hypertension · Malignant hypertension · Benign hypertension · Systolic hypertension · White coat hypertension

Hypotension	Orthostatic hypotension

M: VAS

anat (a:h/u/t/a/l,v:h/u/t/a/l)/phys/devp/cell/prot

noco/syva/cong/lyvd/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug (C2s+n/3/4/5/7/8/9)

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Caput medusae Ultimate Study Guide

Caput medusae

Contents

Differential diagnosis

Inferior vena cava obstruction

How to differentiate

See also

References