Sclerotherapy is one option interventional radiologists use to treat painful varicose veins.

Varicose veins occur in the saphenous vein, the main vein that runs the length of the inner leg. Blood in the vein flows backward or pools as valves in the vein become weakened. When this happens, the vein’s branch vessels grow larger, appearing rope-like and twisted. The condition, which affects one of every two people over the age of 50 and 25% of all women, can become quite painful. Women with a family of history of varicose veins, or who have had several pregnancies, are especially prone to varicose veins.

In sclerotherapy, the interventional radiologist uses ultrasound guidance to thread an extremely fine needle to the site of the diseased vein and deliver a solution that shrinks the vein, rerouting blood flow to healthier veins.