Watermelon Stomach
The picture shows an endoscopic view of a stomach. Dilated vessels impart it a watermelon-like appearance. This is seen in a condition called GAVE or gastric antral vascular ectasia. It accounts for a subset of non-variceal upper GI bleeds. GAVE is largely idiopathic however, it may also be associated with cirrhosis and scleroderma. Image source- http://www.revistagastroenterologiamexico.org/en-gastric-vascular-ectasia-in-children-articulo-S2255534X16000062#imagen-1
Is this the same thing as gastric varices (which can also be caused by splenic vein thrombosis)?
Not really, GAVE is a type of angiodysplasia with poorly understood pathogenesis whereas in splenic vein thrombosis, varices are formed due to accumulating back pressure in the gastric veins.
