VR image of abdominal wall in a patient with cirrhosis and portal venous hypertension. Inset is Head of Medusa from God of War II (Sony)
Distended and engorged paraumbilical veins, radiating from the umbilicus across the abdomen to join systemic veins. The name caput medusae (Latin for "head of Medusa") originates from the apparent similarity to Medusa's hair once Athena had turned it into snakes. It is a sign of severe portal hypertension that has decompressed by portal-systemic shunting through the paraumbilical veins. DDX would include IVC obstruction which can also produce abdominal wall collateral veins.
Sorry it has ben a while since last post .
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