Sensitivity and specificity of clinical findings for the diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome in women with chronic pelvic pain

BackgroundPelvic congestion syndrome is among the causes of pelvic pain. One of the diagnostic tools is pelvic venography using Beard’s criteria, which are 91% sensitive and 80% specific for this syndrome.ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of the clinical findings in women diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome coming to a Level III institution.MethodsDescriptive retrospective study in women with chronic pelvic pain taken to transuterine pelvic venography at the Advanced Gynecological Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain Unit of Clinica Comfamiliar, between August 2008 and December 2011, analyzing social, demographic, and clinical variables.ResultsA total of 132 patients with a mean age of 33.9 years. Dysmenorrhea, ovarian points, and vulvar varices have a sensitivity greater than 80%, and the presence of leukorrhea, vaginal mass sensation, the finding of an abdominal mass, abdominal trigger points, and positive pinprick test have a specificity greater than 80% when compared with venography.Conclusio...