Ovarian Arteries: An Angiographic Investigation In Chinese

Objective: To describe the angiographic appearance of the ovarian arteries (OVA) in Chinese.Materials and Methods: The patients consisted of 138 women with a mean age of 44.6 years. Ninety-six patients with pelvic lesions were referred for hypogastric-uterine arterial chemoembolization or embolization. Forty-two patients with non-pelvic diseases were included as the control. In addition to the routine diagnostic angiography for evaluation of the patient's primary lesions, nonselective abdominal aortography and selective catheterization of the OVA were performed. Significant OVA supply to the pelvic lesions, the origin, the course, and diameter of identified OVA were recorded.Results: Bilateral selective catheterization of OVA were obtained in 102 women, unilateral in 36 cases. 96.1% of the OVA originated from the anterolateral part of the abdominal aorta, and variations origin occurred in 3.9%. The bilateral OVA were originated at the same level in 41.2%, the left was above the origin of the right in 56.9%, and the right was above of the left in 2.0%. The majority (96.4%) of OVA were given off from the aorta between the superior margin of the L₂ and the inferior margin of the L₃ vertebra. The origin of the OVA was below the origin of the superior mesenteric artery in 98.6%, and below the ostia of the renalarteries in 98.2%. The origin of the left OVA was above the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in 96.9%, and the right OVA was above the origin of the IMA in 81.3%. At least one OVA supplying to the pelvic lesions was identified in 33 of 96 patients (34.4%) with pelvic lesions, In the control, the diameter of the left OVA was 0.9 (0.9 + 0.3) mm (^ 1.1mm in 98.6%), and the diameter of the right OVA was 0.8 (0.8 ± 0.3 )mm (^ 1. lmm in 95.6%). In the patients with pelvic lesions, the diameter of the left OVA was 1.7 (1.7 + 1.1) mm, and that of the right OVA was 1.8 (1.8 + 1.2) mm. The diameter of the OVA was larger statistically in the patients with pelvic lesions than that of in the patients with non-pelvic lesionsConclusion: The findings of OVAs on arteriograms, including the origin, theanatomic location related to the vertebra, the diameter, and branches distribution,would be valuable information for obstetrical and gynecological interventionalprocedure.