Roentgen Demonstration of Esophageal Varices

Twelve years have passed since Wolf¹reported 2 cases in which he had demonstrated varices of the esophagus roentgenologically. His original observations have been confirmed and amplified by others.²In 1931 I published 5 cases and described for the first time the roentgen demonstration of varices of the stomach.³A report on 45 cases appeared three years later.⁴Numerous cases have since been observed by many roentgenologists. Nevertheless, a systematic and routine search for varices, particularly for those of minor degree, has not been widely practiced. In addition, the clinical importance of roentgen demonstration of varices has not received the recognition which it deserves. This is apparent when one reads publications from large teaching centers in which the differential diagnosis of splenomegaly is extensively discussed without mention of roentgen visualization of varices. It seems justifiable, therefore, to review the roentgen demonstration of varices and to discuss