Brain diffusion changes in polycystic ovary syndrome

To date, the exact etiology for increased risk of mood disorders in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients remains unknown and it has been generally suggested that the clinical and physical manifestations of PCOS, such as obesity, hirsutism, acne, or infertility, were thought to be the causes of considerable emotional distress in PCOS women. This point of view may be partially true, however, we suggest that it is necessary to investigate the role of the central nervous system to establish a clear causal relationship between PCOS and mood disorders. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), a well-established magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, provides important information on microstructural characteristics of tissues by detecting the microscopic movement of water molecules within the extracellular space. DWI can distinguish cytotoxic edema from vasogenic edema, and thus is commonly used to diagnose early cerebral ischemia in clinical practice. DWI yields qualitative information, whereas apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated from DWI data are quantitative measurements of the diffusion of water molecules that may be altered in pathologic conditions. (author)