Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Chronic Pelvic Pain due to Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: The Role of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

  • Review / State of the Art
  • Published:
CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common cause of gynecologic referral. Pelvic congestion syndrome, which is said to occurs due to ovarian vein incompetence, is a recognized cause of CPP. The aim of this paper is to briefly describe the clinical manifestations, and to review the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology in the management of this probably under-diagnosed condition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Robinson JC (1993) Chronic pelvic pain. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 5:740–743

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Klocks S (1995) Psychosomatic issues in obstetrics and gynaecology. In: Rayanas KJ, Barbieri RL (eds) Gynaecology principles and practices. Mosby, St Louis, pp 399–402

    Google Scholar 

  3. Belenky A, Bartal G, Atar E, et al. (2002) Ovarian varices in healthy female kidney donors: Incidence, morbidity, and clinical outcome. AJR Am J Roentgenol 179:625–627

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Taylor HC Jr (1949) Vascular congestion and hyperemia: Their effect on function in the female reproductive organs. Clinical aspects of the congestion fibrosis syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 57:637–653

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Giacchetto C, Catizone F, Cotroneo GB, et al. (1989) Radiologic anatomy of the genital venous system in female patients with varicocele. Surg Gynecol Obstet 169:403–407

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lefevre H (1964) Broad ligament varicocele. Acta Obstet Scand 41:122–123

    Google Scholar 

  7. Giacchetto C, Catizone F, Cotroneo GB, et al. (1989) Radiologic anatomy of the genital venous system in female patients with varicocele. Surg Gynecol Obstet 169:403–407

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Scultetus AH, Villavicencio JL, Gillespie DL (2001)The nutcracker syndrome: Its role in the pelvic venous disorders. J Vasc Surg 34:812–819

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Richet MA (1857) Traite practique d’anatomie medico-chirurgicale. E Chemeror, Libraire Editeur, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cotte G (1928 )Les troubles functionelles de l’appareil genital de la femme. Masson et Cie, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  11. Beard RW, Reginald PW, Wadsworth J (1988) Clinical features of women with chronic lower abdominal pain and pelvic congestion. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 95:153–161

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Park SJ, Lim JW, Ko YT, et al. (2004) Diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome using transabdominal and transvaginal sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 182:683–688

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kennedy A, Hemingway A (1990) Radiology of ovarian varices. Br J Hosp Med 44:38–43

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Maleux G, Stockx L, Wilms G, et al. (2000) Ovarian vein embolization for the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome: Long-term technical and clinical results. J Vasc Interv Radiol 11:859–864

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Adams J, Reginald PW, Franks S, et al. (1999) Uterine size and endometrial thickness and the significance of cystic ovaries in women with pelvic pain due to congestion. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 97:583–587

    Google Scholar 

  16. Beard RW, Highman JH, Pearce S, et al. (1984) Diagnosis of pelvic varicosities in women with chronic pelvic pain. Lancet II:946–949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Park SJ, Lim JW, Ko YT, Lee DH, Yoon Y, Oh JH, Lee HK, Huh CY (2004) Diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome using transabdominal and transvaginal sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 182:683–688

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mayer Al, Machan LS (2000) Correlation of ultrasound and venographic findings in pelvic congestion syndrome. J Vasc Interv Radiol 11 [Suppl]:221

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pagani JJ, Thomas JL, Bernardino ME (1982) Computed tomographic manifestations of abdominal and pelvic venous collaterals. Radiology 142:415–419

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Coakley FV, Varghese SL, Hricak H (1999) CT and MRI of pelvic varices in women. J Comput Assist Tomogr 23:429–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tavernier J, Lange D (1965) La phlébographie utéro-ovarienne gauche. Press Med 73:863–866

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ahlberg NE, Bartley O, Chidekel N (1965) Circumference of right gonadal vein: an anatomical and statistical study. Acta Radiol 3:503–512

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Edlundh KO (1964) Pelvic varicosities in women. Acta Obstet Gynaecol Scand 43:399–407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rundqvist E, Sandholm LE, Larsson G (1984) Treatment of pelvic varicosities causing lower abdominal pain with extraperitoneal resection of the left ovarian vein. Ann Chir Gynaecol 73:339–341

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Takeuchi K, Mochizuki M, Kitagaki S (1996) Laparoscopic varicocele ligation for pelvic congestion syndrome. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 55:177–178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Swanton A, Reginald P (2004) Medical management of chronic pelvic pain: the evidence. Rev Gynaecol Pract 4:65–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Edwards RD, Robertson IR, MacLean AB, et al. (1993) Case report: Pelvic pain syndrome—successful treatment of a case by ovarian vein embolization. Clin Radiol 47:429–431

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Venbrux AC, Chang AH, Kim HS, et al. (2002) Pelvic congestion syndrome (pelvic venous incompetence): impact of ovarian and internal iliac vein embolotherapy on menstrual cycle and chronic pelvic pain. J Vasc Interv Radiol 13:171–178

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kim HS, Malhotra AD, Rowe PC, et al. (2006) Embolotherapy for pelvic congestion syndrome: long-term results. J Vasc Interv Radiol 17:289–297

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Arul Ganeshan, Sara Upponi & Raman Uberoi

  2. Department of Radiology, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK

    Lye-Quen Hon

  3. Department of Radiology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Mandeville Road, Stoke Mandeville, HP21 8AL, UK

    M. C. Uthappa & Dinuke R. Warakaulle

Authors
  1. Arul Ganeshan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sara Upponi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lye-Quen Hon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. C. Uthappa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dinuke R. Warakaulle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Raman Uberoi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raman Uberoi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ganeshan, A., Upponi, S., Hon, LQ. et al. Chronic Pelvic Pain due to Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: The Role of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 30, 1105–1111 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-007-9160-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-007-9160-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation