In cirrhosis, collateral vessels reflect GI circulation changes. Which finding reflects this process?

• A. Varices
• B. Ascites
• C. Hemorrhoids
• D. Jaundice

Answer: (C)

Portal hypertension from cirrhosis drives the development of portosystemic collateral vessels as blood seeks routes to bypass the liver. In the GI tract, this shunting often shows up as hemorrhoids, which are dilated veins formed by these collateral pathways in the anorectal region. They reflect the body’s adaptation to redirect blood away from the congested liver, making hemorrhoids a direct sign of this circulatory change. While varices in the esophagus or stomach are another manifestation of portal hypertension, hemorrhoids specifically illustrate the collateralization happening within the GI tract. Ascites and jaundice arise from fluid shifts and liver dysfunction, not from collateral vessel formation.