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Interventional Radiology for Varicocele Treatment

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Varicocele and Male Infertility

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Abstract

Varicoceles are abnormally dilated pampiniform plexus veins. They may present with pain or can be discovered during investigations of infertility. The relationship between varicoceles and infertility remains controversial. Varicoceles may be treated surgically or by embolization.

Venous embolization of the internal spermatic vein is a safe and effective minimally invasive method to occlude the varicocele. Embolization can be enhanced by the additional use of a sclerosant, such as sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) foam. Multiple embolic and sclerotic agents can be used when treated under image guidance, and each agent has its own advantages and disadvantages. Surgical and interventional outcomes are similar in unilateral left-sided varicoceles, with embolization usually having a shorter hospital stay and a lower chance of hydrocele formation. Surgery may be advantageous in bilateral varicoceles.

Collaboration between the urologist and the interventional radiologist as well as using standard classifications and nomenclature facilitates patient care and treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostic Imaging – Interventional Radiology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar

    Walid M. Mubarak

  2. Diagnostic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar

    Jehan AlRayahi

  3. Diagnostic Imaging, Sidra Medicine/Weill-Cornell Medical College, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar

    Ashley James Robinson

Authors
  1. Walid M. Mubarak
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  2. Jehan AlRayahi
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  3. Ashley James Robinson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walid M. Mubarak .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ANDROFERT, Andrology & Human Reproduction Clinic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sandro C Esteves

  2. S.H. Ho Urology Centre, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Chak-Lam Cho

  3. Department of Urology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    Ahmad Majzoub

  4. Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

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Mubarak, W.M., AlRayahi, J., Robinson, A.J. (2019). Interventional Radiology for Varicocele Treatment. In: Esteves, S., Cho, CL., Majzoub, A., Agarwal, A. (eds) Varicocele and Male Infertility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-79102-9_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-79102-9_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-79101-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-79102-9

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