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Magnetic resonance imaging of the normal pituitary gland using ultrashort TE (UTE) pulse sequences (REV 1.0)

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to examine the normal pituitary gland in male subjects with ultrashort echo time (TE) pulse sequences, describe its appearance and measure its signal intensity before and after contrast enhancement.

Methods

Eleven male volunteers (mean age 57.1 years; range 36–81 years) were examined with a fat-suppressed ultrashort TE (= 0.08 ms) pulse sequence. The studies were repeated after the administration of intravenous gadodiamide. The MR scans were examined for gland morphology and signal intensity before and after enhancement. Endocrinological evaluation included baseline pituitary function tests and a glucagon stimulatory test to assess pituitary cortisol and growth hormone reserve.

Results

High signal intensity was observed in the anterior pituitary relative to the brain in nine of the 11 subjects. These regions involved the whole of the anterior pituitary in three subjects, were localised to one side in two examples and were seen inferiorly in three subjects. Signal intensities relative to the brain increased with age, with a peak around the sixth or seventh decade and decreasing thereafter. Overall, the pituitary function tests were considered to be within normal limits and did not correlate with pituitary gland signal intensity.

Conclusion

The anterior pituitary shows increased signal intensity in normal subjects when examined with T1-weighted ultrashort TE pulse sequences. The cause of this increased intensity is unknown, but fibrosis and iron deposition are possible candidates. The variation in signal intensity with age followed the temporal pattern of iron content observed at post mortem. No relationship with endocrine status was observed.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY, UK

    Olivia Portman, Stephen Flemming, Jeremy P. D. Cox & Desmond G. Johnston

  2. Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 408 Dickinson Street, San Diego, CA, 92103 8226, USA

    Graeme M. Bydder

Authors
  1. Olivia Portman
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  2. Stephen Flemming
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  3. Jeremy P. D. Cox
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  4. Desmond G. Johnston
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  5. Graeme M. Bydder
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Graeme M. Bydder.

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Portman, O., Flemming, S., Cox, J.P.D. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the normal pituitary gland using ultrashort TE (UTE) pulse sequences (REV 1.0). Neuroradiology 50, 213–220 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-007-0329-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-007-0329-7

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