Open AccessVaricocele Embolization: Patient Selection: Preprocedure Workup, and Technical Considerations
Author(s) -
Vikram Wadhwa,
James A. Kashanian,
Marc Schiffman,
Timothy McClure
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
seminars in interventional radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.35
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1098-8963
pISSN - 0739-9529
DOI - 10.1055/s-0041-1727105
Subject(s) - varicocele , medicine , percutaneous , embolization , spermatic cord , surgery , incidence (geometry) , sedation , radiology , venous plexus , infertility , pregnancy , genetics , physics , optics , biology
Varicocele refers to an abnormally dilated and tortuous pampiniform venous plexus within the spermatic cord. The prevalence of varicocele is reported to be approximately 15% in the general male population. Its incidence increases with age and has a higher incidence in infertile men. Varicocele treatment (surgical or interventional) is considered one of the most common therapies of reversible infertility in men. Percutaneous embolization offers nonsurgical, minimally invasive option for the treatment of varicoceles, requiring only minimal sedation. In this article, the authors review the clinical and technical details of percutaneous varicocele embolization with a summary of currently available evidence.