Scrotal phlebography of the internal spermatic vein in leftsided idiopathic testicular varicocele: The importance of vessel variation for antegrade sclerotherapy.

Scrotal phlebography was performed on 255 patients with leftsided testicular varicocele. The preparation of a vein embedded in macroscopically visible fatty tissue allows for reliable visualization of the internal spermatic vein. In 44.7% collateral veins were found, the significance of which is discussed in terms of the literature. No venous connections to the iliacal veins, the veins on the contralateral side nor to the other veins of the spermatic cord, especially the cremasteric vein, were detected. These phlebographic findings did not show any changes under valsalva pressure. The presence of proximal or distal collaterals does not provide contraindication for consecutive antegrade sclerotherapy.