Nerve varices a little known disease?

Objective: To report our experience with patients with sciatic nerve varices (SNV) and to indicate which type of patient is more likely to be afflicted with this particular pathology. Method: The sample consisted of 2,400 patients, selecting 80 (3.3%) as possible sufferers of SNV. Patients with the following conditions were highly suspected: patients with varices on the lateral aspect of the leg, the thigh, and oco politeo; patients with uncontrolled variceal recurrence after a safenectomy; patients with symptoms of and who tested positive for pelvic varices; patients with a history of deep vein thrombosis; and patients complaining of sciatic pain along with an increase in the diameter of one limb in relation to the other. These patients underwent detailed and rigorous examination of the "losango popliteo" with the objective of identifying varices inside the sheath of the sciatic nerve and on the lateral aspect of the leg. Of these, 10 underwent venous angiography to detail the anatomical relationship with the sciatic nerve. Results: Of the 80 patients previously selected, we found 21 (26.3%) cases that were positive for SNV through ultrasound. Ten patients had SNV associated with uncontrolled variceal recurrence after safenectomy, while the other 10 were associated with pelvic varices. Sciatic pain was present in 100% of the patients who tested positive for SNV. Conclusion: SNV are not well known in Medicine. If the doctor makes a examination as described in the "patients and methods" section and concentrates on the ultrasound scan of the "diamond popliteal" and lateral aspect of the leg, he or she will be surprised by the high number of cases of SNV that will be diagnosed.