Perfusion MRI in normal and abnormal pituitary gland. A preliminary study

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Imaging Science
• Neuroimaging
• Endocrinology

Background:

• The pituitary gland's vascularization is crucial for its function.
• Assessing pituitary gland perfusion using MRI can aid in diagnosing various pathologies.
• Previous studies have explored MRI techniques for pituitary evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pituitary gland perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
• To establish normal perfusion patterns in healthy volunteers.
• To investigate perfusion abnormalities in patients with pituitary lesions.

Main Methods:

• Sequential contrast-enhanced MRI with spoiled gradient recalled sequences was utilized.
• High temporal resolution (7 seconds) was employed for dynamic imaging.
• Four specific pituitary regions were analyzed for maximal contrast percentual variation.

Main Results:

• Normal pituitary vascularization showed a characteristic enhancement pattern in healthy volunteers.
• Abnormal enhancement timing was observed in patients with pituitary lesions.
• Maximal contrast percentual variation differed between normal and pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic perfusion MRI is effective in characterizing pituitary gland vascularization.
• Abnormal enhancement timing on perfusion MRI can serve as an indicator of pituitary pathology.
• This technique offers valuable insights into pituitary gland hemodynamics for diagnostic purposes.