Ovarian vein thrombosis: a common incidental finding in patients who have undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to use CT to determine the frequency of ovarian vein thrombosis in patients who have undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: With contrast-enhanced conventional CT of the abdomen and pelvis, we ruled out recurrent malignant disease in 50 patients who in the previous 3-20 months had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Thirty of these patients had ovarian cancer (60%), 15 (30%) had cervical cancer, and five (10%) had endometrial cancer.

RESULTS: In 40 (80%) of the 50 patients, contrast-enhanced CT revealed ovarian vein thrombosis. No surrounding stranding to suggest phlebitis was seen in any of the patients. None of the patients reported symptoms that would suggest pulmonary embolism.

CONCLUSION: Ovarian vein thrombosis is a common incidental finding in patients who have undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. No treatment is necessary in cases uncomplicated by thrombophlebitis or pulmonary embolism.