Recurrent varicose veins--is there a role for varicography?

Recurrent varicose veins are a common problem. Ascending phlebography has been used to identify possible incompetent perforating veins. The method is accurate in the leg, but much less so in the thigh. In this study, thirteen patients with recurrent varicose veins were examined with varicography, i.e. direct injection of contrast medium into a dilated varicosity. The method is especially valuable in the thigh. In this study 12 of 13 of the patients with recurrent varicose veins had incompetent perforating veins in the thigh, which would have been missed with a more simple procedure.