title: Pelvic congestion syndrome: etiology of pain, diagnosis, and clinical management.
abstract: Pelvic congestion syndrome is associated with pelvic varicosities that result in chronic pelvic pain, especially in the setting of prolonged standing, coitus, menstruation, and pregnancy. Although the underlying pathophysiology of pelvic congestion syndrome is unclear, it probably results from a combination of dysfunctional venous valves, retrograde blood flow, venous hypertension, and dilatation. Asymptomatic women may also have pelvic varicosities, making pelvic congestion syndrome difficult to diagnose. This article explores the etiologies of pain, use of imaging techniques, and clinical management of pelvic congestion syndrome. Possible explanations for the spectrum of pain among women with pelvic varicosities are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, and Department of Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114.
authors.forename: Darci
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, and Department of Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114; Division of Interventional Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114.
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Deipolyi
authors.affiliation: West Middlesex University Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.affiliation: Division of Interventional Radiology, McMaster University Medical Center, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midia
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, and Department of Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114; Division of Interventional Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114. Electronic address: roklu@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Rahmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oklu
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*