title: Varicocele percutaneous embolization outcomes in a pediatric group: 7-year retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Percutaneous embolization and surgical repair are the current treatment options for varicocele, but determining method superiority remains controversial. In this retrospective study, we evaluate the technical success, complication and recurrence rates following percutaneous embolization in a pediatric group, which were compared to reported outcomes for surgical repairs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty children treated for percutaneous varicocele embolization were recruited. The side and grade of varicocele, symptoms, testicular asymmetry, mean recurrence time, total radiation dose and complications were evaluated. Recurrence and follow-up complications due to embolization were also reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The venography showed retrograde filling of the internal spermatic vein with the identification of aberrantly fed vessels in 23 % of patients. None of the patients suffered from procedure complications except one who had venous injury which was treated with a sclerosing agent. The technical success rate was 93 % (28 patients) with a recurrence rate of 13 % (4 patients). Interestingly, the mean radiation dose used was 862.5 µGy m(2), 3 times lower than abdominal CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the intravascular nature of embolization, which aims to avoid testicular artery and spermatic cord damage (difficult to avoid with the surgical method), and consequently a lower complication rate, along with the same success rate and recurrence rate, our study supports that embolization is a superior method to surgical interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sion Hospital, Sion, Switzerland. soonazmalakzadeh@gmail.com.|Service d'imagerie diagnostique et interventionnelle, Centre Hospitalier du Centre du Valais, Avenue du Grand-Champsec 80, 1950, Sion, Switzerland. soonazmalakzadeh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sonaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fraga-Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sion Hospital, Sion, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierre-Henri
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Morère
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sion Hospital, Sion, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorega
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sion Hospital, Sion, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Produit
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stergiopulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sion Hospital, Sion, Switzerland.|Department of Radiology, Geneva Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constantin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000098:blood supply; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014680:Veins; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Pampiniform venous plexus; Percutaneous embolization; Varicocele; Varicocelectomy; Venography