Sciatica Caused by Venous Varix Compression of the Sciatic Nerve.

BACKGROUND: The authors report the case of a 76-year-old woman presenting with leg pain, numbness, and weakness mimicking a lumbosacral radiculopathy.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Initial lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated mild root compression, but lumbar decompression afforded only transient symptomatic relief. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral plexus and sciatic nerve revealed a gluteal venous varix compressing the sciatic nerve just distal to the piriformis muscle. Neurolysis and surgical resection of the offending varix resulted in resolution of her symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Variceal compression is a rare cause of extraspinal origin of lower extremity radicular pain. It should be considered if there is lack of correlation between radiologic findings and the clinical picture or if there is a failure of response to treatment of the assumed spinal cause.