Polycystic ovary syndrome: dynamic contrast-enhanced ovary MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the enhancement behaviour of the ovaries in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE-MR) imaging and to compare these data with those of normal ovulating controls.


METHODS
24 women with PCOS and 12 controls underwent DCE-MR imaging. Dynamic images were acquired before and after injection of a contrast bolus at 30 s and the min of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. On postprocessing examination: (i) the ovarian volumes; (ii) the signal intensity value of each ovary per dynamic study; (iii) early-phase enhancement rate; (iv) time to peak enhancement (T(p)); and (v) percentage of washout of 5th min were determined. Data of the ovaries of the women with PCOS and controls were compared with Mann-Whitney U-test.


RESULTS
the mean values of T(p) were found to be significantly lower in women with PCOS than in controls (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the mean values of ovarian volume, the early-phase enhancement rate, and percentage of washout of 5th min of ovaries were significantly higher in PCOS patients (p < 0.05). Examination of the mean signal intensity-time curve revealed the ovaries in women with PCOS showed a faster and greater enhancement and wash-out.


CONCLUSIONS
the enhancement behaviour of ovaries of women with PCOS may be significantly different from those of control subjects on DCE-MR imaging examination. In our experience, it is a valuable modality to highlight the vascularization changes in ovarian stroma with PCOS. We believe that improved DCE-MR imaging techniques may also provide us additional parameters in the diagnosis and treatment strategies of PCOS.
Erdem
C Zuhal
CZ
Department of Radiology, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, School of Medicine, 67600 Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey. sunarerdem@yahoo.com
Bayar
Ulku
U
Erdem
L Oktay
LO
Barut
Aykut
A
Gundogdu
Sadi
S
Kaya
Erdal
E
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA