Keywords
Sciatic pain
Venous insufficiency
Diagnostic imaging
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Abstract
Objective: To systematically analyze the main clinical aspects related to sciatic nerve varices, emphasizing their pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic possibilities, in order to broaden the recognition of this condition in medical practice and contribute to the improvement of clinical reasoning. Literature review: Sciatic nerve varices constitute a rare and underdiagnosed condition, frequently associated with atypical, persistent, and refractory sciatic pain despite conventional treatments. The literature analysis demonstrates that diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion, especially in cases without correlation with disc abnormalities. In this context, imaging examinations, particularly magnetic resonance imaging and venous Doppler ultrasound, are essential for diagnostic confirmation and appropriate etiological investigation. Furthermore, treatment may range from conservative management to surgical intervention, being individualized according to disease severity, extent, and clinical impact. Final considerations: It is concluded that early recognition of sciatic nerve varices is essential to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments, although limitations related to the scarcity of robust and standardized studies on the subject still persist.
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