High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 3T of pituitary gland: advantages and pitfalls

Varrassi, Marco; Bellisari, Flavia Cobianchi; Bruno, Federico; Palumbo, Pierpaolo; Natella, Raffaele; Maggialetti, Nicola; Filippo, Massimo De; Cesare, Ernesto Di; Barile, Antonio; Masciocchi, Carlo; Caranci, Ferdinando; Splendiani, Alessandra

doi:10.21037/gs.2019.06.08

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our study was performed on a 1.5 T MRI system, while many specialized pituitary centers use 3.0 T MRI systems nowadays, which provide better visualization of microadenomas and invasion of parasellar regions [ 14 ]. Using 3.0 T instead of 1.5 T MRI scanners in our study could have led to more precise estimates of the true pituitary heights and volumes, but taken into account our high in-plane resolution of 0.975 × 0.975 mm 2 where all our manual measurements were performed, we do not believe it would change our results substantially.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Normative data for pituitary size and volume in the general population between 50 and 66 years

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose The main aim of this study was to provide normative data for pituitary height and volume in persons between 50 and 66 years in the general population. The secondary aim was to establish a convenient surrogate marker of pituitary size for use in routine radiological practice. Methods From a geographically defined prospective healthy study, 1006 participants between 50 and 66 years had a brain MRI, of which 988 (519 women) were included in this study. We measured the mid-sagittal height, max-sagittal height and total volume of the anterior pituitary lobe based on T1-weighted 3D MRI images. Results Both the mean mid-sagittal and max-sagittal pituitary height were significantly larger in women compared to men, with 4.9 ± 1.7 mm versus 4.4 ± 1.4 mm (p < .001) for the mean mid-sagittal height and 6.8 ± 1.2 mm versus 6.1 ± 1.1 mm (p < 0.001) for the mean max-sagittal height. The mean anterior pituitary lobe volume was also significantly larger in women than in men (494 ± 138 mm3 vs. 405 ± 118 mm3) (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in these pituitary sagittal heights nor volume in either sex between the age groups 50–54, 55–59 and 60–66 years. The 95th percentile for mid-sagittal height, max-sagittal height and pituitary volume was 7.7 mm, 8.6 mm and 851 mm3 for women and 6.6 mm, 7.8 mm and 610 mm3 for men. Conclusion This study show that women have a larger pituitary gland than men in the age group between 50 and 66 years and provides normative data for pituitary size estimates which can be used for clinical diagnostic purposes as well as future research.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Normative data for pituitary size and volume in the general population between 50 and 66 years

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…MRS is a non-invasive metabolic imaging technique similar to MRI which provides biochemical information of healthy/pathological tissue, thereby facilitating a better diagnosis. In vivo 1 H MRS of suprasellar masses or tumors is feasible using clinical MRI/MRS scanners [21,22,24], and this technique can be augmented to the pituitary MRI protocol. Based on our current data, in vivo MRS methods can be designed to detect GAGs in patients who are suspected to have RCCs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Characterization of Rathke’s Cleft Cysts (RCCs): Relevance to the Differential Diagnosis of Pituitary Adenomas and RCCs

Ijare

Sharpe

Baskin

et al. 2020

Cancers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Rathke’s Cleft Cysts (RCCs) are rare epithelial cysts arising from remnants of the Rathke pouch in the pituitary gland. A subset of these lesions enlarge and produce a mass effect with consequent hypopituitarism, and may result in visual loss. Moreover, some RCCs with a high intra-cystic protein content may mimic cystic pituitary adenoma, which makes their differential diagnosis ambiguous. Currently, medical professionals have no definitive way to distinguish RCCs from pituitary adenomas. Therefore, preoperative confirmation of RCCs would be of help to medical professionals for the management and proper surgical decision making. The goal of this study is to identify molecular markers in RCCs. Methods: We characterized aqueous and chloroform extracts of surgically resected RCCs and pituitary adenomas using ex vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy. Results: All RCCs exclusively showed the presence of mucopolysaccharides which are glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) made up of disaccharides of aminosugars and uronic sugars. Conclusion: GAGs can be used as metabolite marker for the detection of RCCs and this knowledge will lay the groundwork for the development of a non-invasive, in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy methodology for the differential diagnosis of RCCs and pituitary adenomas using clinical MRI scanners.

show abstract

“…Gradient-echo (GRE), or SWI particularly, can easily depict possible haemorrhagic intralesional components. 24 Post-contrast sequences usually show heterogeneous enhancement, with evidence of avid enhancement of the solid component and ring-like enhancement of the cystic components. 23…”

Section: Microscopic Pathology and Neuroimagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intracranial ependymomas: The role of advanced neuroimaging in diagnosis and management

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Intracranial ependymomas represent a rare subgroup of glial tumours, showing a wide variety of imaging characteristics, often representing a challenging diagnosis for neuroradiologists. Here, we review the most recent scientific Literature on intracranial ependymomas, highlighting the most characteristic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of these neoplasms, along with epidemiologic data, recent classification aspects, clinical presentation and conventional therapeutic strategies. In addition, we report an illustrative case of an 18-year-old girl presenting with an intracranial supratentorial, anaplastic ependymoma, with the aim of contributing to the existing knowledge and comprehension of this rare tumour.

show abstract

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 3T of pituitary gland: advantages and pitfalls

Cited by 27 publications

References 61 publications

Normative data for pituitary size and volume in the general population between 50 and 66 years

Normative data for pituitary size and volume in the general population between 50 and 66 years

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Characterization of Rathke’s Cleft Cysts (RCCs): Relevance to the Differential Diagnosis of Pituitary Adenomas and RCCs

Intracranial ependymomas: The role of advanced neuroimaging in diagnosis and management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About