[Portal cavernoma. Observation of a case and clinico-nosographic considerations (author's transl)]

The clinical case of a sixty-two year old woman suffering for about six years from rare episodes of cramplike pains in the right hypochondriac region, radiated to the homolateral scapula, is described. After diagnosis of biliary calculosis, the patient was admitted to hospital and her gallbladder removed. During the operation a number of venous ectasias of the portal system were evidenced at the hepatic hilus, and their biopsy led to a diagnosis of portal cavernoma. The possible part played by the cavernoma in producing the patient's clinical picture is discussed, with reference also to other cases of cavernoma of varying location. This is followed by a review of the literature, in which stress is placed on the different aetiopathogenetic interpretations of angiomas and in particular of portal cavernomas. The possible evolution of angiomas and present treatment trends are also mentioned.