Ovarian vein diameters measured by MDCT in women without evidence of pelvic congestion syndrome

The purpose of this study was to clarify reference values for ovarian veins diameters in women without evidence of primary or secondary pelvic venous insufficiency and to determine factors influencing these parameters. Methods: Multidetector computed tomography images and medical records of 197 women were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' age, body mass index and history of parturition were examined. Results: Diameters of right ovarian veins (ROV) and left ovarian veins (LOV) ranged from one to six mm (mean 2.9 (1.0) mm, 3.2 (1.2) mm, respectively). The reference values for ROVs diameters were between 0.9 mm and 4.9 mm (95% CI 2.7-3.0 mm), while the reference values for LOVs diameters ranged from 0.8 mm to 5.5 mm (95% CI 3.0-3.3 mm). ROV diameter was significantly narrower than LOV diameter (2.9 (1.0) vs 3.2 (1.2) mm, p=0.031). Ovarian veins diameters were smaller in elderly patients (p=0.001 and p=0.002), and larger in nulliparous women (p=0.002) and those with higher individual frequency of parturition (p=0.05). There was a tendency to higher values of veins size in presence of drainage variation. Multiple regression analysis revealed presence of negative significant relationship of ROV size with age, positive association with parturition frequency and anatomical drainage variation of ovarian veins. ROVs and LOVs diameters did not differ in subgroups of normal weight, overweight and obese patients (p>0.05).