Pituitary dwarfism: CT evaluation of the pituitary gland

The pituitary glands of 12 patients, aged 4-20 years, with pituitary dwarfism and of 15 age-matched control patients were evaluated with contrast-enhanced, high-resolution computed tomography (CT). In control patients, CT clearly demonstrated pituitary glands and stalks, 2.5-9.0 mm in height (average, 5.7 mm +/- 1.8). In the 12 patients with pituitary dwarfism, CT did not demonstrate the gland or stalk in four; CT faintly showed only the stalk in another four and showed a small gland (less than 2 mm in height) and a small to normal stalk in the remaining four. Eleven of the 12 patients had a birth history of breech presentation. Possible causes of pituitary dwarfism are discussed.