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Sonography of postpartum ovarian vein thrombophlebitis
Author(s) -
Johnson Samuel C.,
Esclapes Maribel
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0096(199803/04)26:3<143::aid-jcu6>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - medicine , ovarian vein , inferior vena cava , thrombophlebitis , radiology , hydronephrosis , thrombus , phlegmon , hypervascularity , thrombosis , surgery , ovary , urinary system
Purpose We report the gray‐scale, color, and power Doppler findings in 3 cases of postpartum ovarian vein thrombophlebitis (PPOVT), an uncommon but potentially lethal disorder. Methods A retrospective review of medical records revealed 3 patients with PPOVT who had pelvic sonography performed during the disease course. Results The sonographic findings of PPOVT included a tubular, hypoechoic mass identified anterior to the psoas muscle in all cases. Perivenous phlegmon formation resulted in hydronephrosis and obstructive periureteritis in 1 case. Inferior vena cava involvement was detected in 2 cases. Decreases in the sizes of the thrombus and the phlegmon were seen on post‐treatment studies. Conclusions The long course of the thrombosed ovarian vein and the presence of inferior vena cava thrombus are sonographic signs helpful in distinguishing PPOVT from other inflammatory conditions. Sonography cannot be proposed as a primary tool in the diagnosis of PPOVT because it successfully diagnosed only 1 of our 3 cases. However, sonography may be useful in monitoring the response to anticoagulant therapy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 26:143–149, 1998.