Vascular causes of pain or Pelvic Venous Disorders (PeVDS) can present with a spectrum of interrelated symptoms and signs that include chronic pelvic pain (CPP), lower-extremity and vulvar varicosities, lower extremity swelling and pain, left-flank pain and hematuria. These disorders are thought to arise from veins of the pelvis (the gonadal veins, the internal iliac veins and their tributaries, and the venous plexuses of the pelvis) and their primary drainage pathways (the left renal vein, the iliac veins, and the pelvic escape points). Historically, these different clinical presentations have been independently described as an unrelated group of “syndromes” (Pelvic Congestion, May-Thurner, and Nutcracker) that refer to specific anatomic aberrations but fail to completely account for the underlying pathophysiology and overlapping spectrum of symptoms and signs. Multiple evidence gaps also exist related to PeVDs have resulted in skepticism about its relationship to CPP thus leading to an under-evaluated and under-treated patient population. The objective of this presentation is to provide an overview of the possible vascular etiologies of pain, review the relevant pathophysiology, and discuss clinical relevance including evidence around evaluation and treatment options.
Learning Objectives:
Review possible vascular etiologies of pelvic pain
Review relevant vascular pathophysiology
Discuss clinical relevance including evidence around evaluation and treatment options
