Assessment of posterior accessory great saphenous vein of the leg using ultrasonography: a preliminary study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the frequency and anatomic distributions of the posterior accessory great saphenous vein of the leg (PAGSVL) and its insufficiency rate using ultrasonography (US) in patients who presented with clinical, etiologic, anatomic, and pathophysiologic (CEAP) scores of 1 and above.

Methods: A prospective US study on 200 limbs of 100 consecutive patients with CEAP scores of 1 and above.

Results: Right PAGSVL was seen in 45 % (45 cases), whereas left PAGSVL was seen in 54 % (54 cases) of the patients [49.5 % (99 limbs) in total] (p < 0.05). PAGSVL insufficiency was present in 6 % (6 cases) of the patients [6 limbs in total (6.06 %)]. The type of PAGSVL joining to the great saphenous vein (GSV) was above the knee level in 4 % (4 limbs), at the knee level in 14 % (14 limbs), and below the knee level in 74 % of patients (74 limbs). The relationship between posterior tibial perforators and PAGSVL was seen in 3.03 % of cases (3 limbs). There was no statistically significant relationship between PAGSVL insufficiency and the presence of posterior tibial perforators (p = 0.55) or between the presence of PAGSVL and the GSV insufficiency.

Conclusion: PAGSVL was seen in half of the limbs with CEAP scores of 1 and above. The frequency of PAGSVL was more common in the left limbs than the right limbs. There was no statistically significant relationship between the presence of PAGSVL, GSV insufficiency, and different CEAP scores. The PAGSVL often joined to the GVS below the knee, but could also join above the knee.

Keywords: Insufficiency; Posterior accessory great saphenous vein; Ultrasonography.