Ultrasound diagnosis of pelvic veins in women of reproductive age

Introduction. Nowadays radiological diagnostics dives particular attention to the research of the pelvic veins in women. Absence of diagnostic criteria for identifying norms do not make it possible to establish the initial disease manifestations. It is also not sufficient enough to make a proper forecast about the formation of pelvic varicose veins.

Objective: To study the ultrasound criteria of diagnostic parameters of pelvic veins in women of reproductive age without stated venous pathology.

Materials and methods. This research examined 80 young, relatively healthy nulliparous women. The ultrasound criteria of diagnostic parameters of the following veins such as the left renal vein, ovarian veins, cluster-shaped and uterine veins, the angle between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, elasticity indices of the common femoral and popliteal veins were studied. Profound data analysis revealed that all patients had significant differences in the left renal vein indices. Based on this data 2 groups were formed: Group 1 (mean age 25.00 ± 3.31 years) 60 people, quite homogeneous according to the studied indices; Group 2 (mean age 24.25 ± 2.61 years) 20 people, quite heterogeneous according to the studied indices. Ultrasonography (Ultrasound examination) was performed using Logiq E9 (GE, USA) and AIXPLORER Super-Sonik Imagine, with convex, endovaginal, and linear sensors. Statistics processing was accom-plished using the StatSoft Statistica 10 software package.

Results. In the general sample of patients, positive correlations were found for the following pelvic veins: ovarian veins on both sides, and cerebellar veins on the right side; and cerebellar and uterine veins on the right side. The results of the studied ultrasound parameters in Groups 1 and 2 showed that they differ significantly (p < 0.05). Almost all diagnostic parameters in Group 2 were significantly higher (p < 0.05), all women had anatomical aorto-mesenteric pincer.

Conclusion. Ultrasonography of pelvic veins provides information on the anatomical-functional and hemodynamic state of the veins. That is important for prognostication of pelvic varicose veins and revealing asymptomatic forms of this disease.

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