Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using magnetic resonance venography (MRV) to detect pelvic venous congestion (PVC).
Methods: A prospective study of 23 female patients with signs and symptoms of PVC, who underwent duplex sonography, MRV and phlebography (P). Examinations were interpreted in a blinded fashion. Visualization of venous anatomy, presence of venous incompetence and congestion grade were evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity of MRV using P as reference were calculated.
Results: MRV agreed with P in 96% (Cohen-K-value 0.646) and in 70% (K 0.555) of the cases respectively in the venous anatomy and congestion grade. Sensitivity and specificity of MRV were 88% and 67% for ovarian veins, 100% and 38% for hypogastric veins and 91% and 42% for the pelvic plexus.
Conclusions: In this prospective study MRV showed high sensitivity in the evaluation of patients with suspected PVC. Routine use of this diagnostic method requires further studies in larger patient cohorts.