Authors:
Dewailly D. Duhamel A. Robert Y. Ardaens Y. Beuscart R. Lemaitre L. Fossati P.
Institution:
Serv Endocrinol Diabetol Pathologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional de Lille,Lille; France.
Title:
Interrelationship between ultrasonography and biology in the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome. (1993-3376)
Source:
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Vol 687 (pp06-216), 1993.
Abstract:
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.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What are polycystic ovaries (PCO)?
- 3 What causes polycystic ovary syndrome?
- 4 How long will I have PCOS?
- 5 Is polycystic ovary syndrome a serious condition?
- 6 I have polycystic ovary syndrome. How common is this condition?
- 7 What hormone changes are typical of polycystic ovary syndrome?
- 8 What is the significance of elevated LH levels?
- 9 What is the significance of body weight in PCOS?
- 10 I have pelvic pain and ultrasound has shown polycystic ovaries. Are the polycystic ovaries causing the pain?
- 11 Does PCOS cause excessive body hair production (hirsutism)
- 12 Are there any concerns if my periods are infrequent or absent in association with PCOS?
- 13 How can my polycystic ovary syndrome be treated?
- 14 I have heard there is a relatively new treatment for PCOS metformin. Could you explain this?
- 15 We are trying for a baby. Could metformin cause problems for our baby?
- 16 How should irregular or absent periods associated with PCOS be treated?
- 17 How is infertility associated with PCOS treated?
- 18 My periods are irregular and I have PCO. Do I need contraception?
- 19 Can PCOS be treated by surgery?
- 20 Where can I obtain more information?
- 21 Support Groups.
- Polycystic Ovary Disease
- Polycystic Ovarian Disease
- PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Disease Treatment
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