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Round ligament varicosities: a rare cause of groin swelling in pregnancy

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Abstract

Round ligament varicosities (RLVs) are rare, and only occur in pregnancy. The swelling due to RLVs mimics an inguinal hernia and generally resolves spontaneously after delivery. Distinguishing between varicosities and hernias is critical to avoid unnecessary surgeries on pregnant women. We aimed to determine the significance of RLVs during pregnancy and to review and describe their clinical and sonographic characteristics. All patients were diagnosed by gray scale and color Doppler ultrasonography, managed conservatively, and RLVs regressed spontaneously postpartum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, 55139, Atakum, Samsun, Turkey

    Ahmet Veysel Polat, Ramazan Aydin, Ilsen Semiha Kececi, Gulay Karahan & Gulten Olmez Taskin

  2. Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun, Turkey

    Ayfer Kamali Polat

Authors
  1. Ahmet Veysel Polat
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  2. Ramazan Aydin
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  3. Ayfer Kamali Polat
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  4. Ilsen Semiha Kececi
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  5. Gulay Karahan
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  6. Gulten Olmez Taskin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmet Veysel Polat.

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Video 1. Vascularities of the mass are engorged after the Valsalva maneuver (MPG 1054 kb)

Video 2. A color Doppler US demonstrates that the lesion is highly hypervascular (MPG 1132 kb)

Video 3. Varicosities of the round ligament in a 29-year-old pregnant woman. US shows an ovoid, multi-septated cystic mass (MPG 970 kb)

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Polat, A.V., Aydin, R., Polat, A.K. et al. Round ligament varicosities: a rare cause of groin swelling in pregnancy. Abdom Imaging 38, 1178–1181 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-013-9984-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-013-9984-9

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