Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: A Review of Current Diagnostic and Minimally Invasive Treatment Modalities

Abstract

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.