Idiopathic varicoceles: feasibility of percutaneous sclerotherapy

Percutaneous retrograde venography was performed in 717 patients with a left-sided idiopathic varicocele. In 674 (94.0%), testicular (internal spermatic) vein insufficiency was proved by contrast medium reflux from the left renal vein into the testicular vein, down to the pampiniform plexus. The different venographic patterns of the testicular veins were classified into seven basic types. Five of these, comprising 624 patients, had incompetent or missing valves all along the trunk of the testicular vein. In 554 of the 624 (88.8%), sclerotherapy was performed, but such treatment was possible in only three of 50 patients with a competent orifice valve bypassed by an insufficient collateral (type IVb). In 43 of the 717 patients (6.0%), no insufficient vein could be found at all (type 0). The mean fluoroscopy time was 4.4 minutes. There were no serious complications associated with venography or sclerotherapy, and the initial recurrence rate was 9.8%. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is therefore a simple, safe, and effective treatment of testicular vein insufficiency and is suitable for almost 80% of patients with varicoceles.