Advances in the Imaging of Pituitary Tumors

James MacFarlane; Waiel A Bashari; Russell Senanayake; Daniel Gillett; Merel van der Meulen; Andrew S Powlson; Angelos Kolias; Olympia Koulouri; Mark Gurnell

doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2020.06.002

Advances in the Imaging of Pituitary Tumors

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2020 Sep;49(3):357-373. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Jul 15.

Authors

James MacFarlane¹, Waiel A Bashari¹, Russell Senanayake¹, Daniel Gillett², Merel van der Meulen¹, Andrew S Powlson¹, Angelos Kolias³, Olympia Koulouri¹, Mark Gurnell⁴

Affiliations

¹ Cambridge Endocrine Molecular Imaging Group, Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
² Cambridge Endocrine Molecular Imaging Group, Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
³ Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge & Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
⁴ Cambridge Endocrine Molecular Imaging Group, Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 32741476
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.06.002

Abstract

In most patients with pituitary adenomas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential to guide effective decision-making. T1- and T2-weighted sequences allow the majority of adenomas to be readily identified. Supplementary MR sequences (e.g. FLAIR; MR angiography) may also help inform surgery. However, in some patients MRI findings are 'negative' or equivocal (e.g. with failure to reliably identify a microadenoma or to distinguish postoperative change from residual/recurrent disease). Molecular imaging [e.g. ¹¹C-methionine PET/CT coregistered with volumetric MRI (Met-PET/MR^CR)] may allow accurate localisation of the site of de novo or persistent disease to guide definitive treatment (e.g. surgery or radiosurgery).

Keywords: (11)C-methionine; MRI; Met-PET/MR(CR); PET/CT; Pituitary adenoma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Diagnostic Imaging / methods
Diagnostic Imaging / trends*
Endocrinology / methods
Endocrinology / trends
Humans
Medical Oncology / methods
Medical Oncology / trends*
Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
Pituitary Neoplasms / therapy