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Topic

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Short gastric veins

The short gastric veins are a group of small veins that drain the fundus and upper part of the greater curvature of the stomach. They pass through the gastrosplenic ligament to join the splenic vein, which ultimately contributes to the portal vein. Their number is variable, usually ranging between 4 and 7.

These veins form an important part of the portal venous system and have clinical significance in portal hypertension, where they can become engorged and contribute to gastric varices. Their anatomical position within the gastrosplenic ligament also makes them important in surgical procedures involving the stomach and spleen, such as splenectomy, gastrectomy, and fundoplication.

Synonyms

  • Venae gastricae breves

  • Gastric short veins

  • Fundal gastric veins

Function

  • Drain venous blood from the fundus and upper greater curvature of the stomach

  • Empty into the splenic vein → portal vein → liver

  • Provide venous collateral routes in portal hypertension

  • Serve as important surgical landmarks in splenectomy and gastric surgery

Tributaries

  • Fundal venules of the stomach

  • Venules from the upper greater curvature

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Appear as flow voids (black lumina) within the gastrosplenic ligament adjacent to the fundus

  • Surrounded by high-signal fat planes

T2-weighted images:

  • Short gastric veins are seen as flow voids, while adjacent stomach wall and spleen provide contrast

  • Varices appear as serpiginous high-signal vascular channels

STIR:

  • Fat suppression improves visualization of venous channels against peritoneal fat

  • Helpful in detecting perigastric venous engorgement in portal hypertension

T1 Post-Gadolinium (Gd-enhanced MRI):

  • Veins enhance brightly and homogeneously during the portal venous phase

  • Pathology: gastric varices appear as markedly enhancing serpiginous channels

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Venography):

  • Contrast-enhanced MRV delineates short gastric venous drainage into the splenic vein

  • Excellent for evaluating collateral formation in cirrhosis and portal hypertension

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Small venous channels are usually difficult to identify without contrast

  • May appear as tiny tubular soft-tissue densities in the gastrosplenic ligament

CT Post-Contrast (CT Venography / Portal Phase):

  • Veins opacify with contrast, draining from the gastric fundus into the splenic vein

  • Multiplanar and 3D reconstructions highlight their course and connections

  • Gastric varices appear as dilated enhancing veins adjacent to the stomach, often connecting with esophageal varices

MRI imageS

Short gastric veins anatomy MRI axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI imageS

Short gastric veins anatomy MRI axial image -img-00000-00000_00001

CT image

Short gastric veins anatomy CT axial image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Short gastric veins CT axial image 1

CT images

Short gastric veins CT axial image

MRI image

Short gastric veins MRI coronal anatomy image -img-00000-00000