Screening for esophageal varices in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Esophageal varices are identified in 10% to 40% of all patients with cirrhosis. Generally, they are most likely to be large and high risk in patients with advanced liver disease. Furthermore, the more severe portal hypertension is, the more likely are large varices to present. Several specific tests and systems have been developed with which to predict large varices, high-risk varices, or both. For example, platelet count, various blood tests and markers, spleen size, liver stiffness, spleen stiffness, and other measures have all been used.

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