Polycystic ovarian disease: ultrasonic evaluation and correlations with clinical and hormonal data

The pathogenetic enigma of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disease with heterogeneous clinical and anatomical features that were first described in 1721 by Antonio Vallisneri. There is still a lack of consensus regarding the criteria to be used for diagnosis of PCOS. Transvaginal ultrasonography with Doppler studies of the ovarian and pelvic vasculature plays an important role in its diagnosis, but findings must be interpreted in light of the patient's symptoms and laboratory findings.

Insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in the brothers of Indian subcontinent Asian women with polycystic ovaries

BACKGROUND

Ultrasonographic appearances of polycystic ovaries (PCO) are found in 50% of South London Indian subcontinent Asians, a population at high risk of coronary disease and type 2 diabetes (DM). PCO is a familial condition but the genetics remain to be clarified. At present, the only characteristic documented in male family members is premature male pattern balding before the age of 30 years. Our aim was to quantify insulin resistance and endothelial cell function in the brothers of Indian subcontinent Asian women with PCO and/or a family history of type 2 DM.

METHODS

Indian subcontinent Asian women (n = 40, age 16-40 years) with a brother available for study were recruited from the local population. They were stratified into four groups according to the ultrasound appearances of PCO and/or a family history of type 2 DM. Control subjects had no PCO and no family history of DM. Insulin sensitivity (KITT) was measured using a short insulin tolerance test and endothelial function using brachial artery ultrasound to measure flow-mediated dilatation (FMD).

FINDINGS

Groups were well matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip circumference ratios. Asian women with PCO demonstrated insulin resistance independent of BMI or family history of diabetes. Women with PCO and a family history of DM have reduced FMD, though PCO alone was not a marker. The brothers of women with PCO also have insulin resistance, comparable to that associated with a family history of type 2 DM. This was associated with elevations of blood pressure, abnormalities in serum lipid concentrations and impaired endothelial cell function. Endothelial cell function was particularly impaired in those subjects with both a sister with PCO and a family history of DM.

INTERPRETATION

In an ethnic minority population at higher risk of coronary heart disease, brothers of women with PCO have evidence of insulin resistance and endothelial cell dysfunction in early adult life. Further study is required to establish whether these findings are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events in this population.

Radiological evaluation of infertility

With unwanted infertility on the rise, the radiologist is becoming increasingly involved both in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Assessment of the six most common factors causing infertility should be performed during the initial clinical evaluation. These six factors include the cervical factor, endometrial-uterine factor, tubal factor, ovarian factor, peritoneal factor, and male factor. Each of these groups will be discussed in detail with special attention to optimal methods of diagnosis. Hysterosalpingography and ultrasound play the major roles in evaluation; however, there is an important emerging role for newer techniques such as MRI and selective fallopian tube catheterization.

Ovarian stromal hypertrophy in hyperandrogenic women

OBJECTIVE

By using vaginal endosonography, ovarian stromal hypertrophy has been shown to be a strong diagnostic feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome and related states. However, this sign is difficult to quantify and to correlate with other findings because of its subjectivity. We have evaluated the use of computer assisted analysis of ultrasound scans to provide more objective measurements of ovarian structure and size.

DESIGN

We used a computer assisted method for the reading of ultrasound scans. It allowed selective calculation of the stromal area by subtraction of the cyst area from the total ovarian area on a longitudinal ovarian section.

PATIENTS

A consecutive series of 57 patients with hyperandrogenism (group 1), 17 patients with hypothalamic anovulation (group 2) and 20 normal women (group 3).

RESULTS

By computerized measure, 75% patients from group 1 had a bilateral stromal area above the mean +2 SD (700 mm2) of women from group 3. All patients from group 2 were below this threshold. Serum LH level was above the normal range in 45% patients from group 1. The stromal area correlated positively with the serum delta 4-androstenedione (r = 0.47, P < 0.005) and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (r = 0.39, P < 0.005) levels, exclusively in group 1. It did not correlate with the basal serum testosterone, LH or insulin levels. The cyst area did not correlate with any hormonal parameter.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian stromal hypertrophy is a frequent and specific feature of hyperandrogenism. It correlates with the ovarian androgenic dysfunction. Its presence is not always linked with elevated serum immunoreactive LH levels. Further data are needed to elucidate the role of insulin and ovarian growth factors.

Transvaginal ultrasonic assessment of the response to clomiphene citrate in polycystic ovarian syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between some ovarian morphological findings based on transvaginal ultrasound (US) and the clomiphene citrate (CC) responsiveness in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

A comparative study of ovarian US features between the CC responders and the CC nonresponders.

SETTING

Infertility and Endocrine Clinic, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Shimane Medical University Hospital, Izumo, Japan.

PATIENTS

Forty-seven infertile patients with PCOS and 30 healthy volunteers.

INTERVENTIONS

A dose of 50 to 200 mg/d CC was given for ovulation induction in patients with PCOS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Ovarian volume and number of follicles; serum LH, FSH, T, delta 4 androstenedione, and DHEAS.

RESULTS

The mean ovarian volume (11.9 mL) and the number of small follicles (13.0) were significantly larger in the CC nonresponders compared with those of the CC responders (7.9 mL and 7.0, respectively). Only 47% of the CC responders and 79% of the CC nonresponders had bilaterally enlarged ovaries (> 6.2 mL). Considerable overlap existed between the different groups. However, 96% of the CC nonresponders had a significantly increased number of follicles (> or = 10 follicles) in each ovary compared with that (16%) of the CC responders. Furthermore, with the combination of these parameters, none of the CC nonresponders had bilaterally normal ovaries, and 96% of patients with PCOS with bilaterally abnormal ovaries were CC nonresponsive.

CONCLUSIONS

Small multiple follicles (> or = 10) and enlarged ovarian volume (> 6.2 mL) were the most prominent transvaginal US features of ovaries in patients with PCOS with CC nonresponsiveness. These US features could be clinically useful for distinguishing clearly a CC nonresponder from a CC responder.

Interrelationship between ultrasonography and biology in the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome

In order to compare the diagnostic significance of hormonal and ultrasonic criteria of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the presence or the absence of ultrasonographic and hormonal features of PCOS were recorded in a heterogeneous population of 90 women presenting with hyperandrogenism and/or menstrual disorders. On clinical and hormonal grounds exclusively, these patients could be separated into five diagnostic subgroups: presumed cases of PCOS (n = 21), idiopathic hirsutism (IH) (n = 26), hypothalamic anovulation (HA) (n = 11), hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) (n = 9), and miscellaneous or undetermined diagnosis (n = 23). By the means of a computed automatic classification of patients (cluster analysis) using five hormonal and ultrasonic criteria of PCOS, four homogeneous clusters of patients were obtained. Cluster #1 (25 patients) had the most characteristic profile of PCOS. It included 15 cases of PCOS and 7 cases of IH. Cluster #4 (47 patients) had the less characteristic profile of PCOS. It included the majority of patients with HA and HPRL and the half of the patients with IH. Cluster #2 included only two hyperandrogenic patients, who were massively obese and in whom ultrasonography may have failed to detect PCOS. Cluster #3 (16 patients) included patients from each diagnostic group, who were gathered together because ultrasonographic and hormonal features were, respectively, present and absent in nearly all of them. With the same analysis, the criteria of PCOS could be graded according to their grouping potential. The presence of an abnormal ovarian stroma by ultrasonography appeared as the most potent criterion. Elevated serum testosterone and androstenedione levels and the polyfollicular pattern of ovaries gave intermediate results, while elevated basal LH level was a much weaker grouping parameter. In conclusion, the automatic classification of patients by cluster analysis using both hormonal and ultrasonographic criteria revealed that the classical diagnostic classification, relying upon hormonal data exclusively, may arbitrarily separate patients having the same disease; and that ultrasonography affords pertinent information that should help provide a better diagnostic definition of PCOS.

Polycystic ovarian disease: contribution of vaginal endosonography and reassessment of ultrasonic diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the superiority of vaginal ultrasonography (US) on the abdominal US for the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).

DESIGN

The US pattern of ovaries was prospectively investigated by abdominal US and, whenever possible, by vaginal US.

SETTING

Primary care, institutional.

PATIENTS

One hundred forty-four women in whom PCOD was suspected on endocrine grounds and 62 other patients presenting with primary hyperprolactinemia (n = 23) or hypothalamic anovulation (n = 39).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Vaginal US allowed a better analysis of the ovarian stroma.

RESULTS

The external ovarian features of PCOD were observed by both routes in less than one third of the 144 patients with PCOD. The internal ovarian features of PCOD were much more frequently observed by vaginal US than by abdominal US (polycystic pattern: 66.7% versus 38.1%, P less than 0.05; increased ovarian stroma: 57.1% versus 4.8%, P less than 0.001). In the 62 patients without PCOD, US features of PCOD were observed in less than 10% of them, except for the uterine width/ovarian length ratio less than 1 and the polycystic pattern (abdominal US: 17% and 34%; vaginal US: 11% and 50%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

An increased ovarian stroma seems to be the most sensitive and specific US sign of PCOD, providing that it can be investigated by vaginal US.

Accuracy of ultrasound measurements of female pelvic organs

Uterine size, endometrial thickness and ovarian volume were measured ultrasonically and the results compared with caliper measurements made shortly afterwards at the time of total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The results establish the validity of ultrasound measurements. Histological studies also confirmed the diagnosis made with ultrasound of polycystic ovaries in women complaining of pain due to pelvic congestion.

Clinical presentation, hormonal profiles and ultrasonic ovarian morphology in women with suspected polycystic ovarian disease

The aim of this study is to determine the clinical presentation, hormonal profiles and ultrasonic ovarian morphology in a group of Thai women with polycystic ovarian disease. The patients consisted of 54 women who had abnormal menstruation, androgenic symptoms, LH to FSH ratio of at least 3 and normal serum prolactin. The clinical and hormonal profiles of the patients were similar to the previous reports from developed countries. The typical ultrasonic cystic appearance of the ovaries was observed in about two-thirds of the patients. The patients with cystic ovaries had lower mean body weight but higher mean serum LH and FSH than the control group.

Ovarian size in postmenopausal women

Ovarian volumes have been determined by pelvic ultrasonography in 2246 apparently healthy postmenopausal women of whom 2221 were included in the statistical analysis. Factors associated with gonadal size have been identified, and reference ranges for derived indices have been determined for use (in association with criteria for abnormal morphology) in a screening programme for ovarian carcinoma. The right ovary was present in 98.9% of subjects and the left in 99.1%. The mean (SD; range) of right and left ovarian volumes were 3.58 (1.40; 1.00-14.01) and 3.57 (1.37; 0.88-10.9) ml respectively. Significant predictors of ovarian volume were years since the menopause, weight, parity, age at menopause, a history of hormone replacement therapy, and previously diagnosed breast cancer. Abnormal ovarian volumes were assessed from a score equal to the (observed mean log volume (MLV) minus the predicted MLV)/0.327. A simplified nomogram has been prepared for routine clinical use. The relative abnormality of one ovary was assessed from a ratio score equal to loge (larger ovarian volume/smaller ovarian volume)/0.211 compared with the 99th centile for the Gaussian distribution.

Ultrasonic findings in polycystic ovarian disease

The uterus and ovaries of 50 patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and 30 eumenorrheic women were studied with a real-time ultrasound mechanical sector scanner. Uterine and ovarian volumes (UV and OV) and the OV/UV ratio were calculated, and ovarian morphology was classified as prevalently solid and cystic. Both ovaries were displayed in 44 of the PCOD and in 25 of the normal patients and appeared bilaterally solid, cystic, or with different morphology, respectively, in 43.2%, 47.7%, and 9.1% of cases in the former group and in 76%, 20%, and 4% in the latter group. Statistically significant differences between normal and PCOD patients were found in OV, UV, and OV/UV ratio. Bilaterally enlarged ovaries with multiple tiny cysts, the classic ultrasonographic picture of the polycystic ovary, were found in only 16 (36.3%) of the PCOD cases, while 34 (77.3%) had an OV/UV ratio greater than 1 standard deviation above the mean. Four ultrasonographic ovarian patterns were observed in the PCOD patients: enlarged cystic; enlarged solid; normal-sized cystic; and normal-sized solid. These findings emphasize the need for a reconsideration of the ultrasonographic criteria of PCOD.

Ultrasound in the evaluation of normal and induced ovulation

In the past several years sonography has become an invaluable research tool for the investigation of spontaneous and induced ovulation and has added to the understanding of folliculogenesis and reproductive endocrinology. In practical terms, in ovulation induction sonography assists in the evaluation of the number and distribution of follicles, necessary for adequate interpretation of estrogen levels. Although there is no ideal size when it can be assumed that a follicle is mature, estimation of follicle size is of value and is a good guide to the timing of hCG administration. If the follicles are extremely small or there is evidence of hyperstimulation, these observations, together with the E2 levels, may be used to decide whether a further ultrasonic examination is warranted for the assessment of follicular growth or whether the treatment cycle should be abandoned. Provided follicular size is within normal limits, the diameter of the largest follicle may also be used in IVF programs to determine when the patient should be admitted to the hospital for more intensive monitoring of follicular development and the administration of hCG. Ultrasound is also valuable in patients with only one ovary accessible to laparoscopy. Even if the largest follicle is in the inaccessible ovary, the treatment cycle does not have to be abandoned, provided that several follicles are developing in the contralateral ovary. If neither ovary is accessible laparoscopically, percutaneous oocyte aspiration offers the patient the opportunity of IVF and embryo transfer.