Splenic Stiffness by 2D Shear Wave Elastography and Platelet Count to Predict Varices Needing Treatment and Bleeding in Extrahepatic Portal Venous Obstruction

There is an unmet need to search for suitable noninvasive predictors of varices in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) like in cirrhosis. There is no definitive guideline on the use of noninvasive parameters for endoscopic surveillance in EHPVO.

Our study found that both the spleen stiffness measurement and platelet count are unreliable to predict varices needing treatment and variceal bleeding in EHPVO, unlike in cirrhosis. Hence, surveillance endoscopy may be necessary in every EHPVO case, in order to identify patients in need of treatment.