Society of Interventional Radiology offers new guidance for treating chronic pelvic pain
The Society of Interventional Radiology has issued new guidance on diagnosing and treating chronic pelvic pain in women.
On Tuesday, the organization published its latest recommendations in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. The document was developed by SIR’s Women’s Health Clinical Specialty Council and Venous Clinical Specialty Council, in collaboration with the SIR Guidelines and Statements Division.
The new guidance focuses on pelvic venous disorders, which cause a wide array of painful symptoms. Since such disorders are often mistaken for other gynecologic issues, they can be difficult to diagnose and treat effectively.
“While many people assume chronic pelvic pain is gynecological in nature, studies show that more than 80% of women with CPP do not have a gynecological problem,” SIR President Robert A. Lookstein, MD, said in a news release. “Because of the misconceptions about the causes of CPP, it can be hard for women to obtain a diagnosis and find treatment. We hope this guidance changes that dynamic and ensures that women get access to the care they need without delay.”
Prior research has suggested that up to one-third of pelvic pain reported by women may be of venous origin, but determining this can be challenging. Providers tasked with determining the source of a woman’s pelvic pain should deploy both physical and imaging assessments.
SIR maintains that catheter-directed venography remains the gold standard for diagnosing PeVD “due to its ability to assess real-time venous hemodynamics and flow, as well as to simultaneously perform intravascular pressure measurements, intravascular ultrasound, and provocative maneuvers.” The new guidelines also highlight the roles of ultrasound, CT and MRI in diagnosing these disorders, and provide distinct criteria for the use of each modality.
Beyond diagnosis, radiologists also have a role in treating and managing pelvic pain. Embolization and stent procedures offer less invasive relief options, if conservative pain management fails.
The full detailed guidance can be viewed here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.