MRI of pituitary adenomas: the position of the normal pituitary gland

Neuroradiology. 1994 May;36(4):295-7. doi: 10.1007/BF00593264.

Abstract

The position of the normal pituitary gland, assessed using gadolinium - enhanced MRI was compared with the position found at surgery for pituitary adenoma in 25 patients. The tumours were five microadenomas and 20 macroadenomas. Using T1-weighted imaging, the anterior lobe could be differentiated on the sagittal image in five patients (20%) and on the coronal image in four (16%). The high intensity of the posterior lobe could be differentiated using T1-weighted sagittal imaging in 13 patients (52%). The normal pituitary gland, which enhanced more strongly than tumour, could be differentiated using Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI on the sagittal images in 22 cases (88%) and on the coronal image in 17 (68%). In seven patients, the normal pituitary gland surrounded the tumour; it was displaced superiorly in 14 cases and superioposterorly in two but in no case was it displaced anteriorly or downwards.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / metabolism
  • Contrast Media
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Gadolinium DTPA
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypophysectomy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Pentetic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism
  • Pituitary Gland / pathology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery
  • Prolactinoma / diagnosis
  • Prolactinoma / metabolism
  • Prolactinoma / surgery
  • Reference Values
  • Thyrotropin / metabolism

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Pentetic Acid
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Thyrotropin
  • Growth Hormone
  • Gadolinium DTPA