Is shear wave elastography relevant in the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome?

The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) to the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Thirty-seven patients with PCOS diagnosis criteria were included in the study. Sixteen volunteer patients without hormonal disturbances and with normal menstrual cycles were evaluated as the control group. Gray scale ultrasonography (US) and SWE measurements in both ovaries were performed by a single radiologist who was blinded to the clinical and laboratory results.

The SWE measurements in PCOS group were 8.4±2.0 kPafor the right ovary and 9.4±3.9 kPa for the left ovary and in the control group 7.8±4.1 for the right ovary and 8.6±2.5 kPa for the left ovary. There was no statistically significant difference between the PCOS and the control group according to the SWE results (for right ovary p=0.356, for left ovary p=0.258, and total ovary p=0.293).

The ovarian morphology isstill the most reliable imaging finding in the diagnosis of PCOS, although it is controversial especially among adolescents. Although the diagnostic efficacy of SWE is demonstrated in a variety of soft tissue lesions, we did not find any significant contribution of SWE to the diagnosis PCOS. Therefore, the promising value of elastography is yet to be defined for the diagnosis of PCOS.