Assessment of ovarian vascularization in the polycystic ovary by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether there are differences in ovarian echogenicity and vascularization as assessed by three-dimensional power Doppler angiography (3D-PDA) between women with polycystic ovaries (PCO) and women with normal ovaries (NO).


METHODS
Eighty-three women were classified into two groups according to the 2003 Rotterdam consensus criteria. The NO group comprised women (n = 45) with regular menstrual cycles and proven fertility, whereas the PCO group comprised women (n = 38) with oligo-anovulation, clinical and/or biochemical features of hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovary morphology at two-dimensional ultrasound. All women were evaluated by means of 3D-PDA. The parameters studied in both groups were follicle number per ovary (FNPO), ovarian volume (OV), mean gray value (MG) and three vascular indices: vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI).


RESULTS
The PCO group showed a higher mean OV as well as FNPO. No differences in MG, VI, FI and VFI were found between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
3D-PDA indices are not useful for discriminating between normal and polycystic ovaries.
Pascual
Maria Angela
MA
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain. marpas@dexeus.com
Graupera
Betlem
B
Hereter
Lourdes
L
Tresserra
Francisco
F
Rodriguez
Ignacio
I
Alcázar
Juan Luis
JL
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D055815:Young Adult