Medicare Advantage

Medical Policy

Notification

Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Notification Issue Date: 03/21/2025

Effective April 21, 2025, the Company has determined that it is no longer necessary for the following Medicare Advantage policy to remain active: therefore, Policy # MA11.066c: Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome will be archived.

The following codes will remain eligible for coverage:

CPT codes:

36012, 37241, 75894

ICD-10 code:

N94.89 Other specified conditions associated with female genital organs and menstrual cycle

Medical Policy Bulletin

Title:

Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Policy #:

MA11.066c

Policy

The Company reserves the right to reimburse only those services that are furnished in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting that is appropriate to the member’s medical needs and condition.

Ovarian and internal Iliac vein embolization as a treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome is considered experimental/investigational and, therefore, not covered because the safety and/or effectiveness of this service cannot be established by review of the available published peer-reviewed literature.

Guidelines

There is no Medicare coverage criteria addressing ovarian and internal iliac vein embolization as a treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome; therefore, the Company policy is applicable.

BENEFIT APPLICATION

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Evidence of Coverage, ovarian and internal iliac vein embolization as a treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome is not eligible for payment under the medical benefits of the Company’s Medicare Advantage products because the service is considered experimental/investigational and, therefore, not covered.

Services that are experimental/investigational are excluded from the Company’s Medicare Advantage products. Therefore, they are not eligible for reimbursement consideration.

Description

Pelvic congestion syndrome is theorized to be caused by malfunctioning ovarian veins that allow blood to flow backward, away from the heart, which then pools and builds pressure. The stretching and bulging of the veins (known as varices) leads to pain and other symptoms due to the dilatation and congestion in the veins. Pelvic congestion syndrome typically affects individuals during the reproductive years and is frequently a diagnosis of exclusion. Identification of the varices can be made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scanning, contrast venography, or direct visualization. An interventional radiologist may treat this condition by blocking the abnormal veins through the use of a balloon catheter, steel coil, and/or sclerosing solution. The technique involves selectively catheterizing the ovarian and internal iliac veins and advancing the catheter into the abnormal vein. The abnormal vein is then blocked at its source, which is theorized to decrease congestion and relieve symptoms.

The majority of available published peer-reviewed literature are case series for individuals receiving this therapy. Laborda et al. evaluated the clinical outcome and individuals’ satisfaction during a 5-year follow-up period for pelvic congestion syndrome. Limitations for this study, however, include the lack of clearly defined diagnostic criteria, as well as the absence of a control group to compare outcomes. A 2016 systematic review by Mahmoud et al. identified 20 case series (total n=1081 individuals) who underwent vein embolization for pelvic congestion syndrome. The authors did not require any particular diagnostic criteria for pelvic congestion syndrome. The length of follow-up in the studies ranged from 1 month to 6 years. Seventeen studies (n=648 individuals) reported the proportion of individuals who reported symptom relief. Overall, 571 (88.1 percent) individuals reported short-term symptom relief and 77 (11.9 percent) reported little or no relief. Seventeen studies (n=721 individuals) reported symptom relief at 12 months. A total of 88.6 percent had symptom improvement and 13.4 percent reported little or no relief. Only one study used a comparison group, but individuals in it received conservative treatment because they were ineligible for vein embolization therapy, so outcomes after the two interventions cannot be compared. Therefore, it is not possible to draw conclusions from these data because of a lack of a placebo control or comparative data from alternative interventions.

Because of the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria for pelvic congestion and published randomized controlled trials using well-defined eligibility criteria, there are inadequate data to permit scientific conclusions regarding the efficacy of this procedure.

References

Ball E, Khan KS, Meads C. Does pelvic venous congestion syndrome exist and can it be treated? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2012;91(5):525-528.

Brown CL, Rizer M, Alexander R, et al. Pelvic congestion syndrome: systematic review of treatment success. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2018;35(1):35-40.

Chung MH, Huh CY. Comparison of treatments for pelvic congestion syndrome. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2003;201(3):131-138.

Cordts PR, Eclavea A, Buckley PJ, et al. Pelvic congestion syndrome: early clinical results after transcatheter ovarian vein embolization. J Vasc Surg. 1998;28(5):862-868.

Daniels JP, Champaneria R, Shah L, et al. Effectiveness of embolization or sclerotherapy of pelvic veins for reducing chronic pelvic pain: a systematic review. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2016;27(10):1478-1486.e8.

Dorobisz TA, Garcarek JS, Kurcz J, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome: single-centre experiences. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2017;26(2):269-276.

Gandini R, Chiocchi M, Konda D, et al. Transcatheter foam sclerotherapy of symptomatic female varicocele with sodium-tetradecyl-sulfate foam. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2008;31(4):778-784.

Ganeshan A, Upponi S, Hon LQ, et al. Chronic pelvic pain due to pelvic congestion syndrome: the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2007;30(6):1105-1111.

Gloviczki P, Comerota AJ, Dalsing MC, et al; Society for Vascular Surgery; American Venous Forum. The care of patients with varicose veins and associated chronic venous diseases: clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum. J Vasc Surg. 2011;53(5 Suppl):2S-48S.

Hocquelet A, Le Bras Y, Balian E, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Diagn Interv Imaging. 2014;95(3):301-306.

Johnson NR. Vulvovaginal varicosities and pelvic congestion syndrome. [UpToDate Web site]. 12/18/2024. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/vulvovaginal-varicosities-and-pelvic-congestion-syndrome?search=Vulvovaginal varicosities and pelvic congestion syndrome&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~128&usage_type=default&display_rank=1 [via subscription only]. Accessed January 21, 2025.

Kies DD, Kim HS. Pelvic congestion syndrome: a review of current diagnostic and minimally invasive treatment modalities. Phlebology. 2012;27(Suppl 1):52-57.

Kim HS, Malhotra AD, Rowe PC, et al. Embolotherapy for pelvic congestion syndrome: long-term results. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2006:17(2 Pt 1):289-297.

Kwon SH, Oh JH, Ko KR, et al. Transcatheter ovarian vein embolization using coils for the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2007;30(4):655-661.

Laborda A, Medrano J, de Blas I, et al. Endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome: visual analog scale (VAS) long-term follow-up clinical evaluation in 202 patients. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2013;36(4):1006-1014.

Maleux G, Stockx L, Wilms G, Marchal G. Ovarian vein embolization for the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome: long-term technical and clinical results. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2000;11(7):859-864.

Mahmoud O, Vikatmaa P, Aho P, et al. Efficacy of endovascular treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2016;4(3):355-370.

Meissner MH, Gibson K. Clinical outcome after treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome: sense and nonsense. Phlebology. 2015;30(1 Suppl):73-80.

Monedero JL, Ezpeleta SZ, Perrin M. Pelvic congestion syndrome can be treated operatively with good long-term results. Phlebology. 2012;27 Suppl 1:65-73.

Naoum JJ. Endovascular therapy for pelvic congestion syndrome. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2009;5(4):36-38.

Nasser F, Cavalcante RN, Affonso BB, et al. Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014;125(1):65-68.

Pieri S, Agresti P, Morucci M, et al. Percutaneous treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Radiol Med. 2003;105(1-2):76-82.

Pyra K, Wozniak S, Drelich-Zbroja A, et al. Evaluation of effectiveness of embolization in pelvic congestion syndrome with the new vascular occlusion device (ArtVentive EOS™): preliminary results. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2016;39(8):1122-1127.

Pyra K, Wozniak S, Roman T, et al. Evaluation of effectiveness of endovascular embolisation for the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome--preliminary study. Ginekol Pol. 2015;86(5):346-351.

Sichlau MJ, Yao JS, Vogelzang RL. Transcatheter embolotherapy for the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome. Obstet Gynecol. 1994;83(5 Pt 2):892-896.

Siqueira FM, Monsignore LM, Rosa-E-Silva JC, et al. Evaluation of embolization for periuterine varices involving chronic pelvic pain secondary to pelvic congestion syndrome. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2016;71(12):703-708.

Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR). Pelvic venous disease (pelvic congestion syndrome or chronic pelvic pain). Available at: https://www.sirweb.org/patient-center/conditions-and-treatments/pelvic-venous-disease/. Accessed January 21, 2025.

Stones RW. Pelvic vascular congestion--half a century later. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2003;46(4):831-836.

Tarazov PG, Prozorovskij KV, Kyzhkov VK. Pelvic pain syndrome caused by ovarian varices. Treatment by transcatheter embolization. Acta Radiol. 1997;38(6):1023-1025.

Tropeano G, Di Stasi C, Amoroso S, et al. Ovarian vein incompetence: a potential cause of chronic pelvic pain in women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2008;139(2):215-221.

Tu FF, Hahn D, Steege JF. Pelvic congestion syndrome-associated pelvic pain: a systematic review of diagnosis and management. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2010; 65(5):332-340.

Venbrux AC, Chang AH, Kim HS, et al. Pelvic congestion syndrome (pelvic venous incompetence): impact of ovarian and internal iliac vein embolotherapy on menstrual cycle and chronic pelvic pain. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2002;13(2 Pt 1):171-178.

Venbrux AC, Lambert DL. Embolization of the ovarian veins as a treatment for patients with chronic pelvic pain caused by pelvic venous incompetence (pelvic congestion syndrome). Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1999;11(4):395-399.

Coding

CPT Procedure Code Number(s)

EXPERIMENTAL/INVESTIGATIONAL

36012, 37241, 75894

ICD - 10 Procedure Code Number(s)

N/A

ICD - 10 Diagnosis Code Number(s)

EXPERIMENTAL/INVESTIGATIONAL

N94.89 Other specified conditions associated with female genital organs and menstrual cycle

HCPCS Level II Code Number(s)

N/A

Revenue Code Number(s)

N/A

MPMiscCodesNarrativesPub

Coding and Billing Requirements

Cross Reference

Policy History

Revisions From MA11.066c:

03/05/2025	The policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company’s continuing position on Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
01/01/2025	This version of the policy will become effective 01/01/2025. The policy has been reviewed and the intent of this policy remains unchanged.

Revisions From MA11.066b:

01/01/2024	Effective 01/01/2024, this policy applies to New Jersey Medicare Advantage (MA) lines of business.
10/18/2023	This policy has been reissued in accordance with the Company's annual review process.
11/02/2022	The policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company’s continuing position on Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
06/16/2021	The policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company’s continuing position on Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
04/08/2020	This policy has been reissued in accordance with the Company's annual review process.
05/08/2019	This policy has been reissued in accordance with the Company's annual review process.
04/23/2018	The intent of this policy remains unchanged.

Revisions From MA11.066a:

02/15/2017	The policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company’s continuing position on Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
01/20/2016	The policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company’s continuing position on Ovarian and Internal Iliac Vein Embolization as Treatment for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
03/18/2015	The intent of this policy has not changed.

Revisions From MA11.066:

01/01/2015

This is a new policy.

Version Effective Date:

04/21/2025

Version Issued Date:

01/02/2025

Version Reissued Date:

03/05/2025