Assessment of sapheno-femoral junction continence in patients with primary adolescent varicocoele.
BACKGROUND
Although there is much evidence supporting a relationship between primary varicocoele and venous incompetence of the saphenofemoral junction in adults, there is no evidence for such a relationship during adolescence. Because of the effect of age and future occupation (standing upright for long periods) on the aetiology, pathogenesis and frequency of varicose veins of the lower extremity and incompetence of saphenofemoral junctions in adulthood, a comparison during adolescence is appropriate.


OBJECTIVE
On the basis of a close physiopathological and haemodynamic relationship between primary varicose veins and primary varicocoele, we decided to evaluate the competence of the saphenofemoral junctions in a selected group of adolescents affected by primary varicocoele and compare these results with age-matched healthy adolescents.


METHODS
Twenty-five adolescents with primary varicocoele and 23 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. In all cases physical examination and colour Doppler US was used to diagnose or exclude the presence of primary varicocoele and to evaluate the continence of the saphenofemoral junction.


RESULTS
On the right side, 10 of 25 varicocoele patients and on the left side 11 of 25 varicocoele patients had incompetence of the saphenofemoral junction. For the control patients the incidence was 2/23 on the right side and 4/23 on the left side. The difference is statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated high concurrence of varicocoele and valvular incompetence of the saphenofemoral junction in a particular adolescent group. We suggest clinical examination and US assessment of the saphenofemoral junctions of adolescents affected by varicocoele in order to detect the early diagnosis of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs among these patients.
Karadeniz-Bilgili
Mirace Yasemin
MY
Department of Radiology, Kirikkale University School of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel Hospital, Kirikkale, Turkey. mykaradeniz@hotmail.com
Basar
Halil
H
Simsir
Ilknur
I
Unal
Birsen
B
Batislam
Ertan
E
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012611:Scrotum / Q000098:blood supply; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*