[Magnetic resonance in familial central diabetes insipidus: a family study]

To evaluate through MR the presence or absence of the normal hyper-intense signal of the posterior pituitary lobe in four patients diagnosed of familial central diabetes insipidus.

The posterior pituitary lobe was studied by magnetic resonance imaging in four patients, three children and one adult, diagnosed of familiar central diabetes insipidus.

In none of the four patients could the normal posterior bright signal be detected.

The normal hyper-intense MR image of the neurohypophysis is suggested to reflect its function and its absence is frequent in patients diagnosed of familial central diabetes insipidus.