The Polycystic Ovary. I. Clinical and Histologic Features

The clinical, histologic and laboratory findings in 466 cases of surgically proven polycystic ovaries collected from the literature were reviewed and compared with the findings in our series of 39 patients. The variability of the clinical features did not support the hypothesis of an associated syndrome. The histologic studies in the present series also failed to define a consistent entity. Wedge resection resulted in improvement of menstrual function in from 6 to 93 % of cases (in our series, 58%), and in pregnancy in 13 to 95% of cases (in our series, 33%). This further illustrates the lack of homogeneity in the clinical material. It was not possible to predict the results of surgery from clinical findings or urinary steroid studies. Evidence for the occasional coexistence of a hyperadrenal state was strong.