Embolization of the ovarian veins as a treatment for patients with chronicpelvic pain caused by pelvic venous incompetence (pelvic congestion syndrome)

Ovarian and pelvic (internal iliac) varices have long been recognized as a source of chronic pelvic pain in women, The technique of transcatheter embo lotherapy for ovarian and pelvic varices requires selective catheterization of the ovarian and internal iliac veins, followed by contrast venography a nd embolization. The long-term effects of treatment are the subject of ongo ing investigation. This article provides a concise background on ovarian an d pelvic varices and reviews the recently published literature on their emb olization for the treatment of pelvic venous incompetence (also known as pe lvic congestion syndrome), Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 11:395-399. (C) 1999 Li ppincott Williams & Wilkins.