Noncyclical chronic pelvic pain caused by dilated veins in uterus, broad ligament, and ovarian plexus
Sidewall, paravaginal, and internal iliac varicosities may be present
Occasionally pelvic varices communicate with vulvar and lower extremity varicosities
First described by Richet in 1857
Chronic dull pelvic pain, pressure, and heaviness: Result of dilated tortuous and congested veins caused by retrograde flow through incompetent ovarian vein valves
IMAGING
General Features
Ultrasonographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Angiographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Nasser F et al: Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 125(1):65-8, 2014
Rane N et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 42(4):135-40, 2013
Ball E et al: Does pelvic venous congestion syndrome exist and can it be treated? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 91(5):525-8, 2012
Kies DD et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome: a review of current diagnostic and minimally invasive treatment modalities. Phlebology. 27 Suppl 1:52-7, 2012
Smith PC: The outcome of treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome. Phlebology. 27 Suppl 1:74-7, 2012
Freedman J et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome: the role of interventional radiology in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. Postgrad Med J. 86(1022):704-10, 2010
Asciutto G et al: Pelvic venous incompetence: reflux patterns and treatment results. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 38(3):381-6, 2009
Asciutto G et al: MR venography in the detection of pelvic venous congestion. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 36(4):491-6, 2008
Creton D et al: Embolisation of symptomatic pelvic veins in women presenting with non-saphenous varicose veins of pelvic origin - three-year follow-up. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 34(1):112-7, 2007
Ganeshan A et al: Chronic pelvic pain due to pelvic congestion syndrome: the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 30(6):1105-11, 2007
Koc Z et al: Association of left renal vein variations and pelvic varices in abdominal MDCT. Eur Radiol. 17(5):1267-74, 2007
Liddle AD et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome: chronic pelvic pain caused by ovarian and internal iliac varices. Phlebology. 22(3):100-4, 2007
Cheong Y et al: Chronic pelvic pain: aetiology and therapy. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 20(5):695-711, 2006
Kim HS et al: Embolotherapy for pelvic congestion syndrome: long-term results. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 17(2 Pt 1):289-97, 2006
Nicholson T et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome, who should we treat and how? Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 9(1):19-23, 2006
Fleischer AC: Recent advances in the sonographic assessment of vascularity and blood flow in gynecologic conditions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 193(1):294-301, 2005
Park SJ et al: Diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome using transabdominal and transvaginal sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 182(3):683-8, 2004
Polat P et al: Color Doppler US in the evaluation of uterine vascular abnormalities. Radiographics. 22(1):47-53, 2002
Noncyclical chronic pelvic pain caused by dilated veins in uterus, broad ligament, and ovarian plexus
Sidewall, paravaginal, and internal iliac varicosities may be present
Occasionally pelvic varices communicate with vulvar and lower extremity varicosities
First described by Richet in 1857
Chronic dull pelvic pain, pressure, and heaviness: Result of dilated tortuous and congested veins caused by retrograde flow through incompetent ovarian vein valves
IMAGING
General Features
Ultrasonographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Angiographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Nasser F et al: Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 125(1):65-8, 2014
Rane N et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 42(4):135-40, 2013
Ball E et al: Does pelvic venous congestion syndrome exist and can it be treated? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 91(5):525-8, 2012
Kies DD et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome: a review of current diagnostic and minimally invasive treatment modalities. Phlebology. 27 Suppl 1:52-7, 2012
Smith PC: The outcome of treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome. Phlebology. 27 Suppl 1:74-7, 2012
Freedman J et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome: the role of interventional radiology in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. Postgrad Med J. 86(1022):704-10, 2010
Asciutto G et al: Pelvic venous incompetence: reflux patterns and treatment results. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 38(3):381-6, 2009
Asciutto G et al: MR venography in the detection of pelvic venous congestion. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 36(4):491-6, 2008
Creton D et al: Embolisation of symptomatic pelvic veins in women presenting with non-saphenous varicose veins of pelvic origin - three-year follow-up. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 34(1):112-7, 2007
Ganeshan A et al: Chronic pelvic pain due to pelvic congestion syndrome: the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 30(6):1105-11, 2007
Koc Z et al: Association of left renal vein variations and pelvic varices in abdominal MDCT. Eur Radiol. 17(5):1267-74, 2007
Liddle AD et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome: chronic pelvic pain caused by ovarian and internal iliac varices. Phlebology. 22(3):100-4, 2007
Cheong Y et al: Chronic pelvic pain: aetiology and therapy. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 20(5):695-711, 2006
Kim HS et al: Embolotherapy for pelvic congestion syndrome: long-term results. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 17(2 Pt 1):289-97, 2006
Nicholson T et al: Pelvic congestion syndrome, who should we treat and how? Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 9(1):19-23, 2006
Fleischer AC: Recent advances in the sonographic assessment of vascularity and blood flow in gynecologic conditions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 193(1):294-301, 2005
Park SJ et al: Diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome using transabdominal and transvaginal sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 182(3):683-8, 2004
Polat P et al: Color Doppler US in the evaluation of uterine vascular abnormalities. Radiographics. 22(1):47-53, 2002
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