Se Hwan Kwon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Soon Chan Park, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Joo Hyeong Oh, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dong Ho Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyung Nam Ryu MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the incidence of Giacomini vein and its association with lower extremity venous insufficiency.

From September 2006 to July 2007, 173 patients (58 males, 115 females, mean age: 52.7 years, range: 22~72 years) who had been diagnosed with unilateral/bilateral varicose veins or telangiectasias were evaluated with duplex US. We investigated the presence of 1) Giacomini vein, 2) superficial/deep vein reflux or thrombosis, 3) anatomical sites of venous reflux, and 4) abnormal perforating veins. Abnormal reflux was determined positive when the reflux flow was observed for more than 0.5 seconds in superficial veins and 2 seconds in deep veins.

In 346 lower extremity limbs, Giacomini veins were found in 33 limbs (10%) of 21 patients (total: 12%, male: 10%, female: 13%). Bilateral Giacomini veins were found in 12 patients. Of the 33 limbs that had Giacomini veins, 20 limbs had greater saphenous vein (GSV) reflux and 4 limbs had small saphenous vein (SSV) reflux. There was, however, 1 limb that had deep vein reflux. There was no significant difference in GSV reflux (p=0.155), SSV reflux (p=0.760), and the mean velocity of GSV reflux or SSV reflux (p=0.685, p=0.431, respectively) between the group that had Giacomini vein and the one that did not. There was no significant difference in the incidence of Giacomini vein, perforating veins between the group that had GSV reflux or SSV reflux and the group that did not (p=0.294, p=0.414 respectively). We could not find any differences in deep vein reflux (femoral veins, popliteal veins) between the group that had Giacomini vein and the group that did not (p=1.000, p=0.871, respectively).

The study conducted shows that Giacomini vein is found in 12% of patients with varicose veins. Our results indicated that unlike the conventional belief that Giacomini vein is somehow associated with SSV reflux, it is not associated with neither GSV nor SSV reflux.

Giacomini vein is not associated with neither greater nor small saphenous vein reflux.

Kwon, S, Park, S, Oh, J, Lee, D, Ryu, K, Incidence of Giacomini Vein and Its Association with Lower Extremity Venous Insufficiency.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6014528.html