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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
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High resolution pituitary gland MRI at 7.0 tesla: a clinical evaluation in Cushing's disease
Alexandra A J de Rotte1, Amy Groenewegen2, Dik R Rutgers2
1Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Postbox 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. A.A.J.deRotte@umcutrecht.nl.
Objective:
To evaluate the detection of pituitary lesions at 7.0 T compared to 1.5 T MRI in 16 patients with clinically and biochemically proven Cushing's disease.
Methods:
In seven patients, no lesion was detected on the initial 1.5 T MRI, and in nine patients it was uncertain whether there was a lesion. Firstly, two readers assessed both 1.5 T and 7.0 T MRI examinations unpaired in a random order for the presence of lesions. Consensus reading with a third neuroradiologist was used to define final lesions in all MRIs. Secondly, surgical outcome was evaluated. A comparison was made between the lesions visualized with MRI and the lesions found during surgery in 9/16 patients.
Results:
The interobserver agreement for lesion detection was good at 1.5 T MRI (κ = 0.69) and 7.0 T MRI (κ = 0.62). In five patients, both the 1.5 T and 7.0 T MRI enabled visualization of a lesion on the correct side of the pituitary gland. In three patients, 7.0 T MRI detected a lesion on the correct side of the pituitary gland, while no lesion was visible at 1.5 T MRI.
Conclusion:
The interobserver agreement of image assessment for 7.0 T MRI in patients with Cushing's disease was good, and lesions were detected more accurately with 7.0 T MRI.
Key Points:
Interobserver agreement for lesion detection on 1.5 T MRI was good; Interobserver agreement for lesion detection on 7.0 T MRI was good; 7.0 T enabled confirmation of unclear lesions at 1.5 T; 7.0 T enabled visualization of lesions not visible at 1.5 T.
