PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME CAUSED BY OVARIAN VARICES - TREATMENT BY TRANSCATHETER EMBOLIZATION

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of therapeutic embolization in the pelvic congestion syndrome caused by o varian varices. Material and Methods: Six women, aged 25-40 years, wit h pelvic pain syndrome and marked left (n=5) or bilateral (n=1) ovaria n varicocele were treated by transcatheter retrograde venous embolizat ion. Results: The pelvic pain syndrome disappeared in all patients wit hin 4 weeks, and there was regression of the periodic pain in 2 women with dysmenorrhoea. The patients were free of symptoms during the 1-4- year follow-up. Conclusion: Marked ovarian varices may cause a pelvic pain syndrome. Percutaneous embolization improves both the chronic pai n and the dysmenorrhea in these patients. Transcatheter treatment coul d be considered as an alternative to surgical or laparoscopic ligation in ovarian varicocele.