title: Adrenal gland volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine adrenal gland volume (AGV) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by comparison with healthy control subjects and to investigate the relationship between AGV and hormonal status.
  
  
  METHODS
  AGV was measured on transverse sections of T1-weighted MRI imaging data in 27 PCOS patients and 40 age-matched control subjects for this prospectively designed study. A comparative analysis of AGV in PCOS and controls was performed and possible correlations between AGV and hormonal parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCOS patients had significantly larger AGV compared to controls ((11.7±4.4 cm(3), 7.2±1.9 cm(3), respectively, P<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between total AGV and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, 17-OH progesterone, and total and free testosterone levels in the PCOS group (r=+0.51, +0.48, +0.43, +0.62, respectively; P values<0.05). In addition, AGV was significantly negatively correlated with LH and LH/FSH ratio in the PCOS group (r= -0.55, P=0.02; r=-0.51, P=0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCOS patients have significantly increased AGV as well as a positive correlation of AGV and androgens. We conclude that the assessment of AGV with MRI shows a significant correlation with the androgenic activity of the gland, and that hypertrophy of the adrenal gland may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Izmir yolu 7.km, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Electronic address: edunlu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ilgin State Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Izmir yolu 7.km, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beker-Acay
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Izmir yolu 7.km, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kacar
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turamanlar
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Tulmac
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seven
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozuguz
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009929:Organ Size; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adrenal gland volume; Magnetic resonance imaging; Polycystic ovary syndrome