[Cirrhosis of vascular origin]

Cirrhosis of vascular origin is seen only in case of obstacle on the vessels that drain the liver, i.e. the small hepatic veins, the large hepatic veins or the segment of the vena cava comprised between its junction with the hepatic veins and the right atrium. Obstruction of the portal vein or the hepatic artery proper does not cause cirrhosis. Some diseases of the small intrahepatic vessels may mimic cirrhosis but must be distinguished from it. Chronic cardiac liver may also resemble vascular cirrhosis, but "cardiac cirrhosis", if it exists, is probably exceptional.