caput medusae

{{short description|Appearance of distended and engorged superficial epigastric veins}}

{{for|the cactus|Astrophytum caput-medusae}}

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{{Infobox medical condition (new)

| name = Caput medusae

| image = Caput medusae CT ax 002.jpg

| caption = Axial CT showing portosystemic collateral circulation via the umbilical vein: caput medusae in liver cirrhosis

File:ఉదరకుడ్యంలో ఉబ్బుసిరలు ( Caput Medusae ).jpeg

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| field = Gastroenterology

| synonyms = Palm tree sign

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Caput medusae is the appearance of distended and engorged superficial epigastric veins, which are seen radiating from the umbilicus across the abdomen. The name caput medusae (Latin for "head of Medusa") originates from the apparent similarity to Medusa's head, which had venomous snakes in place of hair. It is also a sign of portal hypertension.{{cite journal | vauthors = Mohammed AA | title = Caput medusae sign; a unique finding during abdominal examination in patients with portal hypertension; case report | journal = Annals of Medicine and Surgery | volume = 54 | pages = 54–56 | date = June 2020 | pmid = 32373342 | pmc = 7191313 | doi = 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.04.004 }} When the portal vein, that transfers the blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver, is blocked, the blood volume increases in the peripheral blood vessels making them appear engorged. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-is-caput-medusae It is caused by dilation of the paraumbilical veins, which carry oxygenated blood from mother to fetus in utero and normally close within one week of birth, becoming re-canalised due to portal hypertension caused by formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the liver. The appearance is due to cutanous portosystemic collateral formation between distended and engorged paraumbilical veins that radiate from the umbilicus across the abdomen to join systemic veins.{{cite journal | vauthors = Sharma B, Raina S | title = Caput medusae | journal = The Indian Journal of Medical Research | volume = 141 | issue = 4 | pages = 494 | date = April 2015 | pmid = 26112857 | pmc = 4510739 | doi = 10.4103/0971-5916.159322 | doi-access = free }}