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Evaluation of anterior pituitary gland volume in childhood using three-dimensional MRI
Simone Marziali1, Fabrizio Gaudiello, Alessandro Bozzao
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy. simonemarz@libero.it
Background:
Three-dimensional MRI (3D-MRI) is a reliable tool for the evaluation of anatomical volumes. Volumetric measurement of the normal anterior pituitary gland in childhood has been performed in the past by 2D-MRI calculations, but has inherent inaccuracies.
Objective:
To obtain accurate normal anterior pituitary gland volume in childhood using 3D-MRI coronal sections.
Materials And Methods:
The anterior pituitary gland was measured using coronal T1-weighted 3D-gradient-echo sequences (section thickness 0.75 mm). The study group was composed of 95 prepubertal children (age range 2 months-10 years) with clinically normal pituitary function and no pituitary or brain abnormalities.
Results:
A measurement error of 0.2-0.4% was assessed by using a phantom study. Volumetric evaluation of the anterior pituitary gland showed progressive growth of the gland from a mean 131+/-24 mm(3) at 2-12 months, to 249+/-25 mm(3) at 1-4 years and 271+/-29 mm(3) at 5-10 years.
Conclusions:
These data may be useful for paediatricians in the evaluation of patients with neuroendocrine diseases, in particular growth hormone deficiency.
