title: [Polycystic ovaries: an imprecise ultrasonographic definition].
abstract: In the absence of a precise definition, the terms "ovarian dystrophy" are often erroneously used. Therefore we propose a more modern terminology which allows to distinguish two types of ovarian follicle pathology: the microfollicular disease results from a follicular arrest of maturation, leading to an accumulation of immature microfollicles in the ovarian cortex. The clinical correlate is anovulation. This disease encompasses two aetiologic entities: polycystic ovarian disease (PCO) and the multifollicular ovaries (MFO), which were previously gathered under the label of "endocrinal ovarian dystrophy"; the macrofollicular disease results from the excessive growth of one or several follicles with or without luteinisation. Its clinical correlate is pelvic pain. It includes three main aetiologies: macropolycystic ovaries, functional cysts and LUF syndrome. These could also be termed "mechanical or local dystrophy". This new classification allows to consider two distinct anatomical entities which represent the whole of functional ovarian pathology.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie ouest CHU, Lille.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ardaens
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dewailly
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Les dystrophies ovariennes: une définition échographique imprécise.