Ovary

Other nonneoplastic lesions

Polycystic ovary disease


Editorial Board Member: Gulisa Turashvili, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer A. Bennett, M.D.
Krisztina Lengyel, M.D.
Krisztina Hanley, M.D.

Last author update: 13 December 2022
Last staff update: 13 December 2022

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PubMed Search: Polycystic ovary disease

Krisztina Lengyel, M.D.
Krisztina Hanley, M.D.
Cite this page: Lengyel K, Hanley K. Polycystic ovary disease. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/ovaryPCO.html. Accessed December 25th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a clinicopathologic syndrome comprising polycystic ovaries and characteristic clinical features
  • Polycystic ovaries resembling PCOS may be seen in prepubertal period or puberty without clinical manifestations
Essential features
  • Most common cause of anovulatory infertility
  • Presents with a variety of clinical and radiologic findings
  • Grossly enlarged, multicystic ovaries, although may not be enlarged in adolescent patients
  • Microscopically: ovaries with multiple cysts, hyperthecosis and atretic follicles
  • Associated with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial neoplasia
Terminology
  • Formerly called Stein-Leventhal syndrome
ICD coding
  • ICD-10: E28.2 - polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • ICD-11: 5A80.1 - polycystic ovary syndrome
Epidemiology
Pathophysiology
  • Development of insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary disease is not fully understood
  • Familial clustering of cases has been observed, strongly suggesting a genetic basis for polycystic ovary disease; however, no specific genetic abnormality has been shown to be the sole culprit in the development of polycystic ovary disease
Clinical features
  • Presents with menstrual disorders (from amenorrhea to menorrhagia) and infertility
  • Can cause acne, obesity, hirsutism, insulin resistance and diabetes
  • 3 different diagnostic criteria:
    • National Institutes of Health (NIH) (1990): androgen excess, oligoovulation and exclusion of other entities that cause polycystic ovaries
    • European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology / American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE / ASRM) in Rotterdam (2003) (2 of 3 present):
      • Oligoovulation or anovulation
      • Excess androgen activity (clinical or biochemical signs)
      • Polycystic ovaries present (by ultrasound) but no other endocrine disorders
    • Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (AE-PCOS) Society criteria (2006):
      • Hyperandrogenism and any 1 or 2 of:
        • Ovulatory dysfunction
        • Polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM)
  • 90% of endometrial cancers arise in a background of chronic estrogen stimulation
    • Obesity (associated with PCOS), which encourages the conversion of androstenedione to estrone in adipose tissue via aromatase activity, is strongly associated with this subset of endometrial tumors
  • Reference: Crum: Diagnostic Gynecologic and Obstetric Pathology, 3rd Edition, 2017
Diagnosis
Radiology description
  • Transvaginal ultrasound:
    • Increased ovarian volume with size > 10 mL
    • Presence of at least 12 follicles that are between 2 and 9 mm in a single ovary (Hum Reprod 2003;18:598)
    • Peripheral distribution of multiple follicles, giving a string of pearls appearance
Case reports
Treatment
Gross description
  • Enlarged ovaries, with numerous subcortical cysts (cysts may be immature follicles)
Gross images

AFIP images

Enlarged ovary is
pearly white

Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Increased ovarian size, including thickness of cortical and subcortical stroma
  • Thickened collagenized tunica
  • Normal numbers of primordial follicles
  • Twice the expected number of ripening and atretic follicles
  • Multiple cystic follicles (1 - 2 mm) with luteinized theca layer (theca lutein hyperplasia)
  • Reference: Crum: Diagnostic Gynecologic and Obstetric Pathology, 3rd Edition, 2017
Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Krisztina Lengyel, M.D. and AFIP
Multiple variably sized cysts and cystic follicles

Multiple variably sized cysts and cystic follicles

Atretic follicle with bands of luteinized theca cells

Atretic follicle with bands of luteinized theca cells

Bands of luteinized theca cells with hemorrhage

Bands of luteinized theca cells with hemorrhage

Outer cortex is
collagenized with
several follicle
cysts

Sample pathology report
  • Ovary, left, oophorectomy:
    • Benign ovary with collagenized tunica, theca lutein hyperplasia of cystic follicles and atretic follicles with residual theca lutein hyperplasia, consistent with polycystic ovary
Differential diagnosis
  • Endocrine disorders:
    • Androgen secreting tumors:
      • Symptoms of hirsutism, acne, deepening of voice
      • Laboratory results: high blood testosterone, DHEA sulfate levels and urine 17 ketosteroids
    • Exogenous androgen:
      • Laboratory results: high blood testosterone
    • Cushing syndrome:
      • Adrenal adenoma (ACTH independent Cushing syndrome)
      • Symptoms include male pattern baldness, clitoromegaly and deepening of voice
      • High cortisol levels, low ACTH level
    • Nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia:
      • Due to either 21 hydroxylase deficiency (most common), 11β hydroxylase deficiency or 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency
      • Most common biochemical abnormality is adrenal androgen excess
      • Measure 17 hydroxyprogesterone, serum cortisol, serum androstenedione
      • Analysis of CYP21A2 gene, which encodes 21 hydroxylase, may be used to confirm diagnosis of nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (Hum Reprod Update 2017;23:580)
    • Primary ovarian failure:
      • Characterized by high levels of gonadotropins, particularly FSH
        • Exceptions are prepubertal age or menopausal transition
Board review style question #1
A 34 year old woman presents with years of irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. On physical examination, she's noted to have hirsutism, central obesity (BMI of 35) and acne. Her bloodwork is noted to have elevated total testosterone and an abnormal glucose tolerance test (GTT). What is she at increased risk of?

  1. Cardiovascular disease
  2. Endometrial hyperplasia / adenocarcinoma
  3. Hypothyroidism
  4. Primary ovarian failure
Board review style answer #1
B. Endometrial hyperplasia / adenocarcinoma. The vignette describes a patient presenting with polycystic ovary disease (reproductive age woman with hirsutism and infertility). She had biochemical changes indicating polycystic ovary disease, such as elevated testosterone and an abnormal glucose tolerance test suggesting insulin resistance. She is at increased risk for endometrial hyperplasia / adenocarcinoma due to frequent anovulation.

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Reference: Polycystic ovary disease
Board review style question #2

Which of the common histologic features of polycystic ovary syndrome is shown in the image above?

  1. Cortical stromal hyperplasia
  2. Cystic follicles
  3. Fibrotic ovarian cortex
  4. Hilar cell hyperplasia
  5. Stromal hyperthecosis
Board review style answer #2
C. Fibrotic ovarian cortex. Polycystic ovary syndrome has multiple histologic hallmarks, one of which is the fibrotic ovarian cortex / collagenized tunica. The other features include twice the expected ripening and atretic follicles, multiple cystic follicles with luteinized theca layer (theca lutein hyperplasia).

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Reference: Polycystic ovary disease
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