Pelvic congestion syndrome: a review of current diagnostic and minimally invasive treatment modalities.
Chronic pelvic pain is a debilitating medical condition with a host of potential causes. Although often overlooked, pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is a well-established cause of chronic pelvic pain due to abnormal ovarian and pelvic varices. The diagnosis is established with modern non-invasive cross-sectional imaging, preferably contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Although medical and open surgical therapies exist, transcatheter percutaneous embolotherapy has been shown to be a safe, effective and durable therapy for the treatment of PCS. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to refine optimal technique and assess long-term patient outcomes.
Interventional Radiology and Image Guided Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
D D
DD
Kies
H S
HS
Kim
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013577:Syndrome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*