Seeking consensus amongst UK-based interventional radiologists on the imaging diagnosis of pelvic vein incompetence in women with chronic pelvic pain: A modified Delphi study

Abstract

Objectives: This modified Delphi study of vascular interventional radiologists sought to achieve consensus statements on the optimal imaging strategy and definitions of important imaging diagnostic features in women with pelvic vein incompetence. Method: The UK-based interventional radiologists with the experience of investigating and treating pelvic vein incompetence responded to up to three rounds of online questionnaires. Results: Three consensus statements emerged from 27 responders: (1) catheter venography is the ‘gold standard’ investigation for the diagnosis of pelvic vein incompetence; (2) pelvic vein incompetence should be defined as ‘retrograde flow along the ovarian or internal iliac veins’; (3) pelvic varices should be defined as ‘tortuous, often dilated, vulval, adnexal, para-uterine veins arising from incompetent internal iliac or ovarian veins.’ Conclusion: This study achieved consensus statements on imaging diagnosis in women with suspected pelvic vein incompetence. These can be used to minimise heterogeneity of research protocols, and represent baseline positions which can, themselves, be tested.