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Age related signal changes of the pituitary stalk on thin-slice magnetic resonance imaging in infants

Takashi Okazaki1, Tetsu Niwa1, Keiji Suzuki2

  • 1Department of Radiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara 259-1193, Japan.

Brain & Development
|December 6, 2018
PubMed

Insights

The signal intensity of the pituitary stalk in infants on T1-weighted imaging decreases with chronological age. This change may reflect postnatal development of the pituitary stalk after birth.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Brain region signal intensities on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) change during infant development.
  • Understanding these changes is crucial for interpreting neuroimaging in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pituitary stalk signal intensity on thin-slice T1WI and infant age.
  • To correlate pituitary stalk signal characteristics with gestational age (GA), postmenstrual age (PMA), and chronological age (CA).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 89 infants without intracranial abnormalities.
  • Calculation of pituitary stalk/pons and anterior pituitary gland/pons signal ratios on T1WI.
  • Visual assessment of pituitary stalk signal intensity and distribution, correlated with GA, PMA, and CA.

Main Results:

  • Pituitary stalk signal ratio positively correlated with GA (P<0.001) and negatively with CA (P<0.001).
  • Chronological age (CA) was an independent predictor of pituitary stalk signal ratio (P<0.001).
  • Infants with higher signal intensity and wider distribution had significantly higher GA and lower CA.

Conclusions:

  • Pituitary stalk signal intensity on T1WI is negatively correlated with CA in infants.
  • This finding may be linked to postnatal changes in the pars tuberalis of the pituitary stalk.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chronological ageGestational ageInfantMagnetic resonance imagingPituitary stalkT1-weighted imaging

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