What's the difference between gastric varices and esophageal varices?

Location : Similar but one arise in the esophagus (throat) and the other arise in the stomach.

Location: Both arise in the same disease processes, probably depending on minor details of the patient's anatomy. Increase in portal venous pressure in the liver causes dilation of normally very small venous channels to relieve the pressure difference between the portal and systemic veins. These vessels are very thin-walled and easily bleed, which can be catastrophic.

Where they are: Gastric means in your stomach and esophageal means in your esophagus (the tube that connect the back of your mouth with the top of your stomach). Varices are abnormal, enlarged veins that can form in your stomach and esophagus due to a blockage of normal vein flow in the upper part of your abdomen. There are several things that can cause this and are all serious conditions.