ANTEGRADE SCROTAL PHLEBOGRAPHY OF THE SPE RMATIC VEIN IN CASE OF LEFT-SIDED VARICOCELE OF THE TESTIS - ARE RETROGRADE PHLEBOGRAPHY CLASSIFICATIONS SUITABLE FOR TYPIFYING

Purpose: The study was conducted to clarify whether the use of classif ications in base of retrograde phlebography would be sufficiently suit able for typifying the findings of antegrade phlebography examinations of the internal spermatic vein with regard to antegrade sclerotherapy . Subjects and methods: In course of antegrade sclerotherapy in 236 pa tients with previously untreated idiopathic left-sided varicocele, phl ebography via scrotal approach was performed. The results were compare d with the relevant findings of the pre-existing classifications of th e retrograde exams. Results: Comparison with the classifications of Ba hren and Braedel showed distinct discrepancies. In 28.8% (Bahren) resp ectively 36.45% (Braedel) of our findings, typification was unsuccessf ul. Correspondence was found with the Riedl-classification. Collateral vessels however, are not sufficiently differentiated. Conclusion: Ret rograde classifications proved insufficient in typifying the findings of antegrade phlebography of the internal spermatic vein. A more subtl e classification is required. This has been worked out and presented.