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3D fat-suppressed T1-weighted volume isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition (VISTA) imaging for the evaluation of the ectopic posterior pituitary gland

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Japanese Journal of Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

We evaluated the usefulness of fat-suppressed three-dimensional T1-weighted volume isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition (FS 3D T1W-VISTA) imaging for the evaluation of the ectopic posterior pituitary gland (EPPG).

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 9 patients with EPPG due to causes other than tumor. All underwent sagittal two-dimensional (2D) T1W-, FS 3D T1W-VISTA- (VISTA), and 3D T2W-driven equilibrium radiofrequency reset pulse (DRIVE) imaging. Two radiologists independently reviewed the 2D T1W- and VISTA images for their image quality and for visualization of the EPPG and of pituitary stalk transection. DRIVE findings were used as the reference standard for pituitary stalk transection. Interobserver and intermodality agreements were evaluated with the kappa (κ) coefficient. The mean grade assigned to the 2D T1W- and the VISTA imaging technique for visualization of the EPPG was assessed by the Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

Interobserver agreement for visualization of the EPPG on 2D T1W- and VISTA images was excellent (κ = 0.82 and κ = 1.00, respectively). The mean grade for EPPG visualization was significantly higher for VISTA- than 2D T1W images (p = 0.0039).

Conclusion

FS 3D T1W-VISTA imaging is useful for the evaluation of EPPG.

A secondary abstract

Conventional MRI yields insufficient information for the evaluation of the ectopic posterior pituitary gland (EPPG). The visualization of the EPPG was significantly higher for fat-suppressed three-dimensional T1-weighted volume isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition (FS 3D T1W-VISTA) than 2D T1W images. FS 3D T1W-VISTA imaging is useful for the evaluation of the EPPG.

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Abbreviations

EPPG:

Ectopic posterior pituitary gland

FS 3D T1W-VISTA:

Fat-suppressed three-dimensional T1-weighted volume isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition

DRIVE:

Driven equilibrium radiofrequency reset pulse

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan

    Minako Azuma & Yoshihito Kadota

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan

    Misayo Matsuyama & Hiroshi Moritake

  3. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

    Toshinori Hirai

Authors
  1. Minako Azuma
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  2. Yoshihito Kadota
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  3. Misayo Matsuyama
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  4. Hiroshi Moritake
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  5. Toshinori Hirai
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Correspondence to Minako Azuma.

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Not applicable. We have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Ethics approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of University of Miyazaki Hospital. Informed patient consent was waived.

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This retrospective study was reviewed and approved by our institutional review board. Informed patient consent was waived.

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Azuma, M., Kadota, Y., Matsuyama, M. et al. 3D fat-suppressed T1-weighted volume isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition (VISTA) imaging for the evaluation of the ectopic posterior pituitary gland. Jpn J Radiol 39, 564–570 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-020-01076-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-020-01076-3

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