[Endovascular treatment of varicoceles and utero-ovarian varices]

Pelvic varices of the gonadal veins affect both males and females presenting as varicoceles in the former and utero-ovarian varices in the latter. These varices are frequently encountered in the general population and can be directly associated with a significant morbidity. The affected venous axes can be easily catheterized in a selective, retrograde manner and can then be occluded through this minimally invasive route, thus avoiding the major surgical complications while giving results comparable or superior to those of the various surgical techniques. These pathologic processes and their endovascular treatment will be discussed.