Dilated superficial abdominal veins

What it means

Increase in diameter of the veins located underneath the skin of the abdomen.

There are two major causes of dilated superficial abdominal veins: (i) Liver cirrhosis and (ii) vena cava obstruction. With cirrhosis, the blood in the veins flows from umbilicus to periphery.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Dilatation of the superficial abdominal veins