Increased incidence of abnormally located ovary in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: a retrospective analysis with magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: To explore the incidence of abnormally located ovary in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome as compared to a control group with magnetic resonance imaging.

METHODS: Pelvic MR images of 83 MRKH patients and 60 age-matched normal females were retrospectively reviewed by two experienced gynecological radiologists in consensus. Characteristics including location of ovary, ovarian volume, and follicle counts were assessed. The incidence of abnormally located ovary was compared between MRKH patients and controls. The ovarian size and follicle counts were compared among three groups: abnormally located ovaries in MRKH patients, eutopic ovaries in MRKH patients, and normal controls.

RESULTS: In total, 166 ovaries of 83 MRKH patients and 120 ovaries of 60 control females were evaluated. Thirty-seven ovaries of 23 MRKH patients (28%, 23/83) were abnormally located, whereas 3 ovaries of three control females (5%, 3/60) were located in abnormal positions (P < 0.001). The mean volume was 9.2 ± 6.3 mL of the abnormally located ovaries in MRKH patients, 7.8 ± 4.0 mL of the eutopic ovaries in MRKH patients, and 8.9 ± 4.8 mL in control females (P > 0.05). No obvious differences were observed with regard to follicle counts among the three groups.

CONCLUSION: Incidence of abnormally located ovary was significantly increased in patients with MRKH syndrome. Such knowledge is important for infertility treatment, evaluation of pelvic pain, and surgical planning for MRKH patients.