Correlation of the ultrasonic appearance of the ovaries in polycystic ovarian disease and the clinical, hormonal, and laparoscopic findings.

The ovarian ultrasonic appearance in 20 patients with polycystic ovarian disease was studied and correlated to the clinical, hormonal, and laparoscopic findings. Ultrasound studies showed that both ovaries were enlarged in 15 patients (15.46 +/- 2.5 cm3). Maximum ovarian surface area was 9.75 +/- 3.38 cm2. Three ultrasonic patterns were detected: (1) isoechoic, with no discernible cysts (four patients); (2) hypoechoic, with multiple small cysts of less than 1 cm (11 patients); (3) hypoechoic, with single cyst of greater than 1 cm (five patients). Ultrasonic estimation of ovarian size was superior to clinical assessment and equal to that of laparoscopic examination. Subtle differences existed between the ultrasonic appearance of the ovaries in hyperprolactinemic subgroups of polycystic ovarian disease compared to normoprolactinemic ones. However, no significant relationship was found between the ovarian size and any of the hormones studied. Obesity, amenorrhea, hirsutism, hyperprolactinemia, and elevated testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were more common in the group with enlarged ovaries, whereas oligomenorrhea, elevated luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, and elevated androstenedione and estrone levels occurred more frequently in the group with normal-sized ovaries. The value of ultrasound studies in the management of polycystic ovarian disease is emphasized.