title: Sensitivity and specificity of clinical findings for the diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome in women with chronic pelvic pain.
abstract: Background Pelvic congestion syndrome is among the causes of pelvic pain. One of the diagnostic tools is pelvic venography using Beard's criteria, which are 91% sensitive and 80% specific for this syndrome. Objective To assess the diagnostic performance of the clinical findings in women diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome coming to a Level III institution. Methods Descriptive retrospective study in women with chronic pelvic pain taken to transuterine pelvic venography at the Advanced Gynecological Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain Unit of Clinica Comfamiliar, between August 2008 and December 2011, analyzing social, demographic, and clinical variables. Results A total of 132 patients with a mean age of 33.9 years. Dysmenorrhea, ovarian points, and vulvar varices have a sensitivity greater than 80%, and the presence of leukorrhea, vaginal mass sensation, the finding of an abdominal mass, abdominal trigger points, and positive pinprick test have a specificity greater than 80% when compared with venography. Conclusion This study may be considered as the first to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the clinical findings associated with pelvic congestion syndrome in a sample of the Colombian population. In the future, these findings may be used to create a clinical score for the diagnosis of this condition.
authors.affiliation: 1 Unidad de Laparoscopia Ginecológica Avanzada y Dolor Pélvico - ALGIA, Avenida Circunvalar # 3-01, Pereira, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ana Lucia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Herrera-Betancourt
authors.affiliation: 1 Unidad de Laparoscopia Ginecológica Avanzada y Dolor Pélvico - ALGIA, Avenida Circunvalar # 3-01, Pereira, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Diego
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Villegas-Echeverri
authors.affiliation: 1 Unidad de Laparoscopia Ginecológica Avanzada y Dolor Pélvico - ALGIA, Avenida Circunvalar # 3-01, Pereira, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jose Duván
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: López-Jaramillo
authors.affiliation: 1 Unidad de Laparoscopia Ginecológica Avanzada y Dolor Pélvico - ALGIA, Avenida Circunvalar # 3-01, Pereira, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jorge Darío
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: López-Isanoa
authors.affiliation: 2 Grupo de Investigación Salud Comfamiliar, Pereira, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jorge Mario
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estrada-Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000291:Adnexal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications*; D010388:Pelvis; D010690:Phlebography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013577:Syndrome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014844:Vulva / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: Pelvic venous insufficiency; chronic venous insufficiency; phlebography; variocele; venography