E-ISSN: 1305-3612
The relation between pelvic varicose veins, chronic pelvic pain and lower extremity venous insufficiency in women
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Vascular Radiology - Original Article
VOLUME: 12 ISSUE: 1
P: 34-38
March 2006

The relation between pelvic varicose veins, chronic pelvic pain and lower extremity venous insufficiency in women

Diagn Interv Radiol 2006;12(1):34-38
Neslihan Zehra Gültaşlı 1
Aydın Kurt 1
Ali İpek 2
Mehmet Gümüş 2
Kemal Rıdvan Yazıcıoğlu 1
Gülçin Dilmen 1
İsmet Taş 1
1. From the Department of Radiology, Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
2. Department of Radiology, Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 25.05.2005
Accepted Date: 06.09.2005
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ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

To determine the frequency of pelvic varicose veins with transvaginal ultrasound and associated lower extremity venous insufficiency with Doppler ultrasound in women with chronic pelvic pain of undetermined origin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 women with chronic pelvic pain of undetermined origin lasting more than 6 months were included in the study. The presence of anechogenic and non-pulsatile vascular structures demonstrating flow in Doppler ultrasound with a diameter >5 mm in parauterine and paraovarian localizations was accepted as pelvic varicose veins. In all patients, lower extremity venous systems were examined with Doppler ultrasound to assess possible associated venous insufficiency. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Pelvic varicose veins were discovered with transvaginal ultrasound in 30 of 100 patients. This association was shown to be statistically significant. Various degrees of associated lower extremity venous insufficiency were also discovered in 21 of these 30 patients.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that the presence of pelvic varicose veins in women with chronic pelvic pain is not infrequent, and in the majority of cases, they are associated with lower extremity venous insufficiency. Since the diagnosis of lower extremity venous insufficiency plays an important part in deciding the course of treatment, lower extremity Doppler ultrasound must be included in the evaluation when pelvic varicose veins are discovered.