Abstract
Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare type of venous thromboembolism. The most common
risk factors for OVT include pregnancy, oral contraceptives, malignancies, recent
surgery, and pelvic infections; however, in 4 to 16% of cases, it can be classified
as idiopathic. Most of the available information regards pregnancy-related OVT, which
has been reported to complicate 0.01 to 0.18% of pregnancies and to peak around 2
to 6 days after delivery or miscarriage/abortion. The right ovarian vein is more frequently
involved (70–80% of cases). Clinical features of OVT include abdominal pain and tenderness,
fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The most typical finding is the presence of
a palpable abdominal mass, although reported in only 46% of cases. OVT can be the
cause of puerperal fever in approximately a third of women. Ultrasound Doppler is
the first-line imaging, because of its safety, low cost, and wide availability. However,
the ovarian veins are difficult to visualize in the presence of bowel meteorism or
obesity. Thus, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is often required
to confirm the presence and extension of the thrombosis. In oncological patients,
OVT is often an incidental finding at abdominal imaging. Mortality related to OVT
is nowadays low due to the combination treatment of parenteral broad-spectrum antibiotics
(until at least 48 hours after fever resolution) and anticoagulation (low-molecular-weight
heparin, vitamin K antagonists, or direct oral anticoagulants). Anticoagulant treatment
duration of 3 to 6 months has been recommended for postpartum OVT, while no anticoagulation
has been suggested for incidentally detected cancer-associated OVT.
Keywords
anticoagulants - ovary - venous thrombosis
