Internal hemorrhoids

[dfib slim]

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I've always thought internal anal hemorrhoids were associated with cirrhosis. UWorld mentions this as well but FA calls them anorectal varices and specifically says NOT internal hemorrhoids. UpToDate also makes no mention of cirrhosis being a cause. Am I just splitting hairs?

 

[Transposony]

I've always thought internal anal hemorrhoids were associated with cirrhosis. UWorld mentions this as well but FA calls them anorectal varices and specifically says NOT internal hemorrhoids. UpToDate also makes no mention of cirrhosis being a cause. Am I just splitting hairs?

FA is being more specific since the term hemorrhoids means normal structures in anal canal. When these normal structures (hemorrhoids) in anal canal becomes diseased (bleeding/thrombosis) by unknown cause they are called hemorrhoidal disease (loosely described as Internal/External hemorrhoids).
When there is dilation of the submucosal veins associated with a known cause like cirrhosis it is called varices, no matter the site.
Remember, hemorrhoids are specialized structures in anal canal as compared to submucosal collateral vessels in rectum which dilate due to cirrhosis.

 

[solitarius]

Other causes include straining, pregnancy, obesity, anal sex.