Radiology, Vol 139, 77-80, Copyright © 1981 by Radiological Society of North America
The association of juvenile hypothyroidism and cystic ovaries
MM Riddlesberger Jr, JP Kuhn and RW Munschauer
Five cases of girls with juvenile hypothyroidism in whom cystic ovaries
were diagnosed with ultrasound are presented. Only one of the five patients
had gynecologic complaints; the other four had signs and symptoms directly
related to hypothyroidism (short stature in three, and irregular menses and
delayed sexual development in one). Two of the girls showed evidence of
precocious sexual development. All five patients were treated with
Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium). In the four girls for whom follow-up was
available, both the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and the ovarian
cysts resolved with treatment. When ovarian cysts are found in a girl who
is either prepubescent or in early pubescence, the possibility of
associated hypothyroidism should be considered
