Abstract
The abnormal dilatation of the pampiniform venous plexus is not always symptomatic. It is much more frequent on the left side. It can extend from the spermatic vein up to its anastomosis in the renal vein and the inferior vena cava. It is observed in 10–15 % of the adult male population, and it sometimes can be symptomatic: pain, scrotal swelling, or testicular atrophy. It is also found in 20–40 % of the population of infertile men, but it does not necessarily imply male infertility. Various theories have been developed to explain its responsibility, with respect to alterations in the fertilizing qualities of the sperm: scrotal hyperthermia above all, venous refluxes exposing the testis to adrenal or renal metabolites, consequences of venous stasis on testicle, immunological mechanisms, etc.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Lenz M, Hof N, Kersting-Sommerhof B, Bautz W. Anatomic variants of the spermatic vein: importance for percutaneous sclerotherapy of idiopathic varicocele. Radiology. 1996;198:425–31.
Sigmund G, Gall H, Bahren W. Stop-type and shunt-type varicoceles: venographic findings. Radiology. 1987;163:105–10.
Gandini R, Konda D, Reale CA, et al. Male varicocele: transcatheter foam sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulfate outcome in 244 patients. Radiology. 2008;246(2):612–8.
Suggested Reading
Demas BE, Hricak H, Mc Clure RD. Varicoceles. Radiologic diagnosis and treatment. Radiol Clin North Am. 1991;29(3):619–27.
Ferguson JM, Gillespie IN, Chalmers N, Elton RA, Hargreave TB. Percutaneous varicocele embolization in the treatment of infertility. Br J Radiol. 1995;68:700–3.
Greiner M, Le Pennec V. Embolisation des varicocèles testiculaires. In: « recommandations de bonnes pratiques en radiologie vasculaire interventionnelle 2007 », Sous la direction de H. Vernhet, SFICV Ed 2007
Marsman JWP. The aberrantly fed varicoceles: frequency, venographic appearance and results of transcatheter embolization. Am J Roentgenol. 1995;164:649–57.
Nieschlag E, Behre HM, Schlingheider A, et al. Surgical ligation vs angiographic embolization of the vena spermatica: a prospective randomized study for the treatment of varicocele related infertility. Andrologia. 1993;25:233–7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag London
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Boyer, L. et al. (2014). Embolization of Varicoceles. In: Chabrot, P., Boyer, L. (eds) Embolization. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5182-1_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5182-1_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-5181-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-5182-1
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)