The contribution of sonographic evaluation of ovarian size in patients with polycystic ovarian disease.

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.