Examples of Varices
Varices in the esophagus are like varicose veins in the legs.
They are swollen veins which usually only occur when there is
cirrhosis of the liver. When this happens, blood from the
intestine cannot get through the blocked liver but rather detours
through the esophagus on the way back to the heart. These veins
eventually can become very large and bleed which is a bad
complication. Note that the veins in the images are swollen and
have a bluish tinge the color of blood in veins.
Like most things in life, they come in small, medium and large.
Usually, it is only when they become large that bleeding occurs.
Image 1 shows a small bluish varix. In Image 2, there are now
several larger undulating swollen varices. In Image 3, you see
quite large swollen veins with even a small amount of blood.