SynthesisThe British journal of radiology2018
Safety and effectiveness of the different types of embolic materials for the treatment of testicular varicoceles: a systematic review.
Synthesis in The British journal of radiology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 39 citations in OpenAlex.
- [Varicocele: comparison of minimally invasive treatment options : Endovascular embolization, microsurgery, and patient-tailored treatment selection].Radiologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Comparison of transbrachial and transfemoral venous access in varicocele embolization: impact on radiation dose and technical success.European radiology · 2026Article
- The "no microcatheter use" technique for varicocele embolization with cyanoacrylate glue: is it really more cost-effective?International urology and nephrology · 2026Article
- Why Varicoceles Recur: Missed Venous Anatomy and Contemporary Strategies for Salvage.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue: the most misunderstood hero in interventional radiology.CVIR endovascular · 2026Article
- A fifteen-year retrospective analysis of varicocele embolization: evaluating success, recurrence rates and embolic agents.CVIR endovascular · 2025Article
- Coil Embolization Is Not Justified for Treating Patients with Veno-Occlusive Dysfunction: Case Series and Narrative Literature Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Antegrade embolization of varicocele with cyanoacrylate glue: a case report.CVIR endovascular · 2024Article
- Oh nuts, they've got a pelvic kidney - a tricky testicular vein embolisation.BJR case reports · 2023Article
- Varicocele: To Treat or Not to Treat?Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
- Retrograde sclerotherapy of male varicocele with veno-venous shunts - incidence and management: a single-centre experience.The British journal of radiology · 2023Article
- Varicocele Embolization: Interventional Radiologist's Perspective.Seminars in interventional radiology · 2022Review
- Article
- Case - Laparoscopic excision of the right testicular vein post-varicocele embolization and coil erosion.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2022Article
- Sprematic vein abscess after varicocele embolization - A case presentation.Urology case reports · 2022Article
- Spermatic vein embolization as a treatment for symptomatic varicocele.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2021Article
- Article
- Using Data Mining to Assist in Predicting Reproductive Outcomes Following Varicocele Embolization.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Improvement of semen parameters after coil embolization of varicoceles: a systematic review.Jornal vascular brasileiro · 2021Review
- Liquid and Solid Embolic Agents in Gonadal Veins.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe purpose of this study is to assess the current evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of the various embolic materials used in varicoceles embolization.
methodsA systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Databases were searched for clinical studies that investigated the clinical outcomes of embolization treatment for the management of testicular varicoceles. Study methodological quality was analyzed.
results23 retrospective and 7 prospective clinical studies were identified with a total of 3505 patients. Technical success rates appear to be above 90% for all embolic materials without any significant differences. In terms of recurrence rates, glue (N = 251) appeared to have the lowest and sclerosants alone (N = 728) the highest recurrence rates which were 4.2% (11-3.08%, SD: 5.9) and 11.03% (18.8-5.15%, SD: 6.06) within an average follow up (f/u) of 16.13 and 25.48 months respectively. Coils alone (N = 898) had an average recurrence rate of 9.1% (17.8-1.4%; SD: 5.79) and a mean f/u of 39.3 months. After an average of 12 months of f/u, the addition of sclerosants (N = 1628) as an adjunct to coils did not improve recurrence rates (8.44%, 16.5-5.1%; SD: 3.4). No differences were reported regarding the safety profile of the various embolic materials.
conclusionDespite the heterogeneity of the included studies, preliminary evidence supports the safe and effective use of the various embolic materials currently used for the management of varicoceles. At 1 year, glue appears to be the most effective in preventing recurrence with coils being the second most effective. The addition of sclerosants to the coil embolization did not appear to have an impact on recurrence rates. Further research is required to elucidate the cost-effectiveness of these approaches. Advances in knowledge: Varicocele embolization appears to be a safe and effective technique regardless of the embolic agent. Addition of a sclerosant agent to coil embolization does not appear to improve outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.