Caput medusae
Other names	Palm tree sign

Axial CT showing portosystemic collateral circulation via the umbilical vein: caput medusae in liver cirrhosis
Specialty	Gastroenterology

Caput medusae is the appearance of distended and engorged superficial epigastric veins, which are seen radiating from the umbilicus across the abdomen. The name caput medusae (Latin for "head of Medusa") originates from the apparent similarity to Medusa's head, which had venomous snakes in place of hair. It is also a sign of portal hypertension.^[1] It is caused by dilation of the paraumbilical veins, which carry oxygenated blood from mother to fetus in utero and normally close within one week of birth, becoming re-canalised due to portal hypertension caused by liver failure.

Differential diagnosis

Inferior vena cava obstruction

Produces abdominal collateral veins to bypass the blocked inferior vena cava and permit venous return from the legs.

Determine the direction of flow in the veins below the umbilicus. After pushing down on the prominent vein, blood will:

flow toward the legs → caput medusae
flow toward the head → inferior vena cava obstruction.

References

External links

Classification

Cardiovascular disease (vessels)

Arteries, arterioles
and capillaries

Inflammation

Peripheral artery disease

Arteriosclerosis	Atherosclerosis Foam cell Fatty streak Atheroma Intermittent claudication Critical limb ischemia Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis Arteriolosclerosis Hyaline Hyperplastic Cholesterol LDL Oxycholesterol Trans fat
Stenosis	Carotid artery stenosis Renal artery stenosis
Other	Aortoiliac occlusive disease Degos disease Erythromelalgia Fibromuscular dysplasia Raynaud's phenomenon

Aneurysm / dissection /
pseudoaneurysm

Vascular malformation

Vascular nevus

Veins

Inflammation	Phlebitis
Venous thrombosis / Thrombophlebitis	primarily lower limb Deep vein thrombosis abdomen Hepatic veno-occlusive disease Budd–Chiari syndrome May–Thurner syndrome Portal vein thrombosis Renal vein thrombosis upper limb / torso Mondor's disease Paget–Schroetter disease head Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis Post-thrombotic syndrome
Varicose veins	Gastric varices Portacaval anastomosis Caput medusae Esophageal varices Hemorrhoid Varicocele
Other	Chronic venous insufficiency Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency Superior vena cava syndrome Inferior vena cava syndrome Venous ulcer

Arteries or veins

Blood pressure

Hypertension	Hypertensive heart disease Hypertensive emergency Hypertensive nephropathy Essential hypertension Secondary hypertension Renovascular hypertension Benign hypertension Pulmonary hypertension Systolic hypertension White coat hypertension
Hypotension	Orthostatic hypotension

Differential diagnosis

Inferior vena cava obstruction

See also

References

External links