Imaging in endocrine disorders

Imaging of the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands plays an integral role in the evaluation of endocrinopathies involving those glands. Magnetic resonance imaging is currently the study of choice in evaluating the pituitary. As for the adrenal, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are probably equally sensitive in detecting adenomas and carcinomas. The endocrinologic and radiologic evaluation of the thyroid gland involves the use of mainly nuclear medicine scanning and ultrasonography. Imaging is playing an increasingly critical role in the evaluation and differential diagnosis of various endocrine disorders involving the pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands.