Multiparametric arterial spin-labeling and diffusion-weighted imaging of phenotyping of polycystic ovaries

Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCO] is a worldwide endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Diagnosis and differentiation of PCO phenotypes are crucial for disease prognosis, fertility outcome, and treatment planning. This study aims to assess arterial spin labeling perfusion (ASL) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) derived metrics in the diagnosis of PCO, differentiation of its phenotypes, and correlation of these metrics with laboratory measurements. ASL and DWI of the pelvis were performed on 72 PCO patients and another 20 age-matched control group. Two observers measured the blood flow (BF) and ADC in the ovarian stroma. Serum levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. BF values were significantly higher in PCO patients than in control cases (P = 0.001), with area under the curve (AUC) of (0.94 and 0.89) and accuracy of (96