ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the frequency of pelvic venous congestion (PVC) in patients with chronic pelvic pain.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, 171 consecutive patients who underwent sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or hip MRI for chronic pelvic pain were evaluated in terms of PVC. The presence of parauterine and/or periprostatic varicose veins with diameters of ≥6 mm was accepted as PVC. The two-tailed significance level was adjusted to p<0.05.

Results:

Of 171 patients, PVC was found in 45 (26.3%). The frequency of PVC was estimated to be 31.8% in women and 16.4% in men. PVC is more common in women than in men (p=0.044; chi-square test). The median age was 35 (19-63) years in patients with PVC.

Conclusion:

PVC is a frequent pathology that is detected inwomen and men. PVC should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain.