[Structure of the venous wall of the pampiniform plexus in idiopathic varicocele].

The Authors discuss about some histologic patterns observed in 100 pampiniform plexus specimens of patients who underwent direct scrotal surgery for idiopathic varicocele. Tunica media was involved in all of 81 specimens in which Authors observed a vascular wall thickening. Out of these, localized hypertrophic phenomena, leading to segmental vascular obliteration, prevailed (74%) on widespread forms (26%). In advanced focal localizations subintimal fibrous pads were demonstrated. In 96% of cases hypertrophy affected the muscular layer too, respectively in focal (41%) and diffuse (59%) way. In 85% of cases fragmentation of lamina elastica interna was associated to media hypertrophy. In 69%, venous lumen was dilated, frequently in association with wall thickening, while only in 12 specimens all vascular layers were reduced. Occlusive endoluminal thrombi were evident in 12%. At last the Authors underline how the wall pathologic modifications do not involve all the veins within the same plexus, and stress on the possible physiopathologic relationships between this fact and different haemodynamic and clinic conditions.