title: Significance of Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the importance of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography of uterine and intraovarian arteries in the clinical diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was planned as a cohort, controlled, prospective study. A total of 80 participants (40 with PCOS and 40 as a control group) were enrolled in the study. A Doppler system with a 6.0 MHz transvaginal probe was used when performing ultrasonography (USG) and Doppler examinations. Ovarian size and volume, number of follicles and stromal echogenity were evaluated by USG. Doppler flow studies were targeted to uterine and intraovarian arteries and the pulsatility index (PI) was assessed. The concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (T) and dihydroepiandrostenedione sulphate (DHEAS) were measured by immunometric methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values of the number of follicles and the ovarian volume of both the right and left ovaries were higher in the group with PCOS than the control group (p < 0.05). The mean PI values of the right and left ovaries, respectively, were 0.84 +/- 0.23 and 1.09 +/- 1.17 in the group with PCOS, and 0.88 +/- 0.14 and 0.92 +/- 0.15 in the control group. The mean PI values of the right and left uterine arteries, respectively, were 3.25 +/- 0.98 and 3.33 +/- 1.12 in the group with PCOS, and 3.17 +/- 0.93 and 3.2 +/- 1.38 in the control group (p > 0.05). The correlation analysis of the ovarian volume, the number of follicles and Doppler parameters revealed that there was a positive correlation and statistically significant difference between the right ovarian volume and right uterine artery PI in the group with PCOS and the left ovarian volume and left uterine artery PI in the control group (p > 0.05). The mean stromal PI of the ovarian and uterine arteries were 0.96 +/- 0.61 and 3.29 +/- 1.02 in the group with PCOS and 0.9 +/- 0.12 and 3.19 +/- 1.14 in the control group, respectively (p > 0.05). In the group with PCOS, the mean ovarian volume and the mean number of follicles were 11.46 +/- 4.43 and 13.91 +/- 4.11, respectively, whereas they were 7.63 +/- 2.44 and 5.55 +/- 2.34 in the control group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is not beneficial to use color Doppler transvaginal ultrasonography in the clinical diagnosis of patients with PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tugrul
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güçlü
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply; D014621:Vagina