Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 4, Issue 7 347-351, Copyright © 1985 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
The contribution of sonographic evaluation of ovarian size in patients with polycystic ovarian disease
U. Nicolini, E. Ferrazzi, M. Bellotti, P. Travaglini, R. Elli and R. C. Scaperrotta
The ovarian size of 44 patients with clinical and endocrinologic findings
suggesting polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) was studied by ultrasound
examination. Reproducibility of the ovarian parameters (transverse,
longitudinal, and anteroposterior diameters, and volume) was also
evaluated. The endocrine status of each patient was evaluated by assay of
blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone
(LH), testosterone, 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta E2), and serum prolactin
(PRL). Ovarian size was also investigated in 40 women with normal cycles,
following the same ultrasound procedure. The mean ovarian volume of the
normal controls was statistically different from the mean of patients with
PCOD. Only 34 per cent of the patients affected by PCOD were above the
second standard deviation of normal ovarian size. A correlation between
endocrinologic findings and ovarian size was observed in women whose
ovarian size fell within normal limits; these women had higher, though not
statistically different, values of LH and testosterone and lower values of
17 beta E2 and PRL compared with patients with enlarged ovaries.
Responsiveness to treatment was more easily observed in patients with
ovarian enlargement.
