To investigate the diagnosis value of the three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound volume technology in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Totally 75 patients with PCOS and 50 normal subjects as controls from Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University were chosed. The volume of the endometrium and ovaries were measured with virtual organ computer-aided analysis techniques (VOCAL). While the follicular numbers and the volumes were measured by sono follicle technique. The ovarian volumes, the follicular volumes and the endometrial volumes were compared between the two groups. Independent samples t test was used to compare PCOS group patients and healthy subjects with endometrial volumes, ovarian volumes, follicle volumes and the average numbers of follicle. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the number of total follicles and the volume of ovary, follicle volume and serum sex hormone concentration in PCOS group.

With the endometrial volume of PCOS patients about (1.6±0.9) cm³ was less than that of the control group [(3.1±1.7) cm³]. The ovarian volume, follicular volume and the average number of follicles were (13.6±4.6) cm³, (1.9±0.7) cm³ and (27.7±7.4). All of them were higher than those in healthy subjects [(7.4±2.9) cm³, (1.1±0.7) cm³, (8.4±3.4)], and the differences were statistically significant (t=6.013, P<0.001; t=8.087, P=0.015; t=7.222, P<0.001; t=15.637, P<0.001). The total number of follicles in PCOS patients were positively correlated with ovarian volume, follicle volume and serum testosterone concentrations (r=0.467, P=0.000; r=0.446, P=0.000; r=0.383, P=0.001). There was no correlation with luteinizing hormone (LH)/thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (r=0.048, P=0.702).

The sono follicle and VOCAL technology provide a new and objective measurement method for PCOS diagnosis.