Endovascular treatment of varicocels and utero-ovarian varices

Pelvic varices of the gonadal veins affect both males and females presentin g as varicoceles in the former and utero-ovarian varices in the latter. The se varices are frequently encountered in the general population and can be directly associated with a significant morbidity. The affected venous axes can be easily catheterized in a selective, retrograde manner and can then b e occluded through this minimally invasive route, thus avoiding the major s urgical complications while giving results comparable or superior to those of the various surgical techniques. These pathologic processes and their en dovascular treatment will be discussed.