Selective spermatic venography and varicocele embolization in men with circumaortic left renal veins.
The presence of variant venous anatomy may increase the technical difficulty of percutaneous varicocele embolization. The authors review their experience performing venography of the left spermatic vein and varicocele embolization in 18 men with circumaortic left renal veins. Selective catheterization of the left spermatic vein was achieved in all but one patient, and all patients with positive venographic results underwent successful embolization. The site of the confluence of the left spermatic vein and the renal vein was variable and it was necessary to use jugular and femoral venous approaches to achieve selective left spermatic vein catheterization. Familiarity with anatomic variations associated with circumaortic renal veins and with embolization techniques from jugular and femoral venous routes facilitates percutaneous varicocele embolization in patients with this variant.
Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 2B5, Canada.
Kiang-Hiong
KH
Tay
Michael L
ML
Martin
A Lisl
AL
Mayer
Lindsay S
LS
Machan
D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*