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Thrombus
Etiology

Thrombosis of the portal vein can occur either outside of the liver (extrahepatic) or within the liver (intrahepatic).
Extrahepatic causes include occlusion by enlargement of hilar lymph nodes, inflammation of the portal vein due to ascending pylephlebitis secondary to infection in the appendix or colon, splenic vein thrombosis secondary to pancreatitis or secondary to surgical procedures on the abdomen.
Intrahepatic causes are cirrhosis of the liver or invasion of the portal vein by primary or secondary carcinomas of the liver.
Pathogenesis

The causes of thrombosis of the portal vein are the same as thrombosis in any blood vessel - an increase in coagulability and a decrease in flow rate.,
Epidemiology

Not common
General Gross Description

A thrombus in the liver looks like a thrombus in any blood vessel.
•Examples:
Portal Vein Thrombosis
General Microscopic Description

Histologically, a clot can either be a blood clot or a mass of tumor cells growing into the veins.
•Examples:
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 871

For Most Current Information Search Medline at National Library of Medicine
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Thrombus
Synopsis by: T.V.Rajan, M.D., Ph.D. (T56000M35100)[509]
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