Unusual MRI findings in lymphocytic hypophysitis with central diabetes insipidus

We report an unusual case of lymphocytic hypophysitis, which proved to be cystic at surgery. Received: 12 October 1998 Accepted: 5 February 1999     

MR Imaging of Central Diabetes Insipidus: A Pictorial Essay

Central diabetes insipidus (DI) can be the outcome of a number of diseases that affect the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal axis. The causes of the condition can be classified as traumatic, inflammatory, or neoplastic. Traumatic causes include postoperative sella or transection of the pituitary stalk, while infectious or inflammatory causes include meningitis, lymphocytic hypophysitis, and granulomatous inflammations such as sarcoidosis and Wegener''s granulomatosis. Various neoplastic conditions such as germinoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, metastasis, leukemic infiltration, lymphoma, teratoma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, Rathke cleft cyst, hypothalamic glioma, and meningioma are also causes of central DI. In affected patients, careful analysis of these MR imaging features and correlation with the clinical manifestations can allow a more specific diagnosis, which is essential for treatment.     

Suprasellar germ cell tumor with subarachnoid seeding MRI and MR spectroscopy findings

A case of suprasellar germinoma with subarachnoid seeding is presented. Patient had a history of depression unresponsive to drug therapy and recently developed diabetes insipidus. MR imaging revealed a huge suprasellar mass, heterogenous in signal intensity due to cystic components. MR spectroscopy of the mass showed prominent lipid peak suggesting high malignant potential.     

Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with panhypopituitarism

Primary panhypopituitarism consists of functional deficiency of the anterior pituitary lobe, which appears during infancy or adolescence. The magnetic resonance findings in 10 patients with a history of primary hopopituitarism are presented. The findings include: reduced pituitary size in all cases: partially (8 cases) or totally (2 cases) empty sella; thin (4 cases), partially visible (3 cases) or absent (2 cases) pituitary stalk; absence of the posterior lobe in 9 cases: bright spot corresponding to an ectopic posterior lobe in 8 cases. These findings are similar to those already reported in pituitary dwarfism and may help under-genesis of the pathogenesis of the disease: which seems to he related to a pituitary stalk lesion.     

垂体发育不良的影像学诊断现状

垂体发育不良是垂体功能低下的重要原因之一,影像学检查为诊断垂体发育不良的重要手段,本文综述垂体发育不良的影像学诊断及其在临床工作中的重要意义。     

Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis: skull radiographs and MRI

We report the skull radiograph, CT and MRI findings in three patients with lymphocytic adenohypophysitis mimicking pituitary adenoma. All cases were associated with pregnancy. CT demonstrated a pituitary mass but did not differentiate lymphocytic adenohypophysitis from pituitary adenoma. The skull radiographs showed either a normal sella turcica or minimal abnormalities; they did not show ballooning or destruction. The MRI appearances were distinctive: relatively low signal on T1-weighted images; preservation of the bright posterior pituitary lobe despite the presence of a relatively large pituitary mass, less common in macroadenomas; marked contrast enhancement compared with pituitary macroadenomas; and dural enhancement adjacent to a pituitary mass. Received: 12 December 1996 Accepted: 19 June 1997     

MRI of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas: factors determining pretreatment hormone levels

Preoperative serum growth hormone (GH) level is one of the most important determinants of outcome. Our aim was to assess MRI findings which may correlate with pretreatment GH levels in GH-secreting adenomas. We retrospectively studied 29 patients with acromegaly caused by a pituitary adenoma. Tumor size (height, width, thickness and volume), suprasellar extension, sphenoid or cavernous sinus invasion, signal intensity and contrast enhancement were studied. Linear regression analysis or Fisher's exact probability test was used for statistical analysis. Factors related to high GH levels were the maximum dimension of the tumour (r = 0.496, P < 0.01), its volume (r = 0.439, P < 0.05), spenoid sinus invasion (P < 0.01) and intracavernous carotid artery (encasement (P < 0.01). The other items were not related to serum GH levels. Since we believe surgery is the first choice of treatment and the cavernous sinus is difficult of access with a conventional surgical approach, preoperative assessment of invasion into the cavernous sinus is critical for predicting the surgical outcome. Low GH levels (5–50 ng/ml) were found with tumours medial to the intercarotid line and high levels (more than 101 ng/ml) with invasive tumours with carotid artery encasement. Variable GH levels were noted with tumours extending beyond the intercarotid line. Because functioning adenomas invading the cavernous sinus tend to have markedly high hormone levels, and only patients with carotid artery encasement showed markedly elevated GH levels, we believe carotid artery encasement a reliable MRI indicator of cavernous sinus invasion. Received: 1 January 1998 Accepted: 18 March 1999     

Agenesis of the internal carotid artery with a trans-sellar anastomosis: CT and MRI findings in late-onset congenital hypopituitarism

A 29-year-old woman with a history of hypothyroidism since early childhood developed hypopituitarism. CT and MRI revealed anterior pituitary hypoplasia, an ectopic posterior lobe, a Chiari I malformation and agenesis of the right internal carotid artery with a trans-sellar anastomosis. This constellation of findings constitutes a previously unreported association in congenital hypopituitarism of late onset. The usefulness of imaging modalities and the pathogenic implications are also discussed. Received: 1 March 2000 Accepted: 19 August 2000     

MRI of a pituitary cryptococcoma simulating an adenoma

We describe a rare pituitary cryptococcoma in an immunocompetent patient, with radiological features similar to those of a pituitary macroadenoma. Although unusual, it should be added to the list of differential diagnosis of pituitary masses. Contrast enhancement of adjacent meninges differentiated the lesion from an adenoma.     

垂体瘤与原发性甲状腺功能减低致垂体增生的MRI鉴别

目的 探讨垂体瘤与原发性甲状腺功能减低(甲减)致垂体增生的MRI影像表现及鉴别诊断.方法 对术后病理已确诊垂体瘤64例及治疗后确诊原发性甲减致垂体增生17例患者的年龄、性别及MRI影像表现进行回顾性分析.结果 垂体瘤组平均年龄为(53.2±18.9)岁,明显高于原发性甲减致垂体增生组[(24.5±16.3)岁],差异有显著统计学意义(t=4.282,P＜0.01);两组患者性别差异无统计学意义(x2=0.594,P＞0.05);垂体大腺瘤组的平均高度为(18.2±7.2) mm,高于原发性甲减致垂体增生组病变平均高度[(10.6±2.6)mm],差异有统计学意义(t=2,432,P＜0.05).垂体瘤因其血供差而易发生囊变、出血和坏死,MRI上常呈高低混杂信号影,常侵犯附近组织结构,垂体后叶高信号消失,垂体柄偏移或中断,增强扫描垂体瘤不均匀异常强化;原发性甲减致垂体增生MRI表现为垂体前叶均匀增大,上缘对称性山包状隆起,呈等T1、等T2信号,其垂体后叶高信号清晰可见,垂体柄居中,增强扫描均匀一致强化,无异常强化或延迟强化区域.结论 两者具有一定特征性的影像表现,MRI具有重要的诊断与鉴别诊断价值.     

MRI visualization of complete bilateral optic nerve involvement by pituitary adenoma: a case report

With large pituitary adenomas, the optic nerves and chiasm usually lie on the tumour capsule and are displaced superiorly. We report a large invasive pituitary adenoma, with complete involvement of both optic nerves. Review of the preoperative MR images demonstrated the optic nerves, with signal intensity close to that of cerebral white matter, and different from the flow void of the basal cerebral arteries. Correlation of this observation with intraoperative findings is discussed.     

侵袭性垂体腺瘤的MRI诊断价值

目的 研究侵袭性垂体腺瘤的MRI影像特征。方法 回顾分析32例经手术及病理证实的侵袭性垂体腺瘤的MRI表现。结果 侵袭性垂体腺瘤的MRI影像学表现:①肿瘤超过颈内动脉(ICA)外侧壁切线;②海绵窦外侧静脉丛间隙消失;③3个或3个以上海绵窦静脉丛间隙消失;④窦内颈内动脉(ICA)被包绕50%以上,甚至被完全包裹。结论 MRI以无创伤、无骨伪影、软组织分辨率高、解剖背景清楚及三维成像等优点,是术前诊断侵袭性垂体腺瘤最主要和最重要的检查手段。     

淋巴细胞性垂体炎的MRI表现

目的 描述淋巴细胞性垂体炎的MRI表现，探讨MRI的诊断价值和限度及其与垂体腺瘤的鉴别诊断。方法 对5例临床以多饮、多尿及头痛为主要症状前来就诊，手术病理诊断为淋巴细胞性垂体炎患者的术前MR影像及其临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 5例淋巴细胞性垂体炎患者MRI均表现为垂体增大，垂体蒂增粗，正常神经垂体T1WI高信号消失，病变均呈明显强化，其中2例为均匀强化，3例强化不均匀。2例可见海绵窦及相邻硬脑膜受侵犯。结论 对于垂体增大合并中枢性尿崩症，伴或不伴有腺垂体功能低下的患者要考虑淋巴细胞性垂体炎的诊断。     

Evolving radiological features of hypothalamo-pituitary lesions in adult patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH)

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare, systemic disease caused by monoclonal expansion of dendritic cells that shows a particular predilection for the hypothalamic–pituitary system (HPS). We studied the function (anterior and posterior pituitary hormonal secretion) and morphology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the HPS in 17 adult patients (seven males, median age 35 years, range 18–59 years) with multisystem LCH. We also evaluated the evolution of structural HPS abnormalities in relation to pituitary function and response to treatment in 12 of these patients during a median follow-up period of 3.75 years (range 1.5–10 years). Of the 17 patients, 14 (82%) had abnormal HPS imaging, and 12 (70%) had more than one area involved. Lack of the bright spot of the posterior pituitary lobe was typically found in all patients with the diagnosis of diabetes insipidus (DI). Eight patients (47%) had infundibular enlargement, six (35%) pituitary infiltration, four (24%) partially or completely empty sella, three (18%) hypothalamic involvement, and two (12%) infundibular atrophy. DI was found in 16 patients (94%) and anterior pituitary hormonal deficiency (APHD) in 10 patients (59%); two patients had single (12%) and 8 (47%) multiple APHD. During the follow-up period there was improvement of the initially demonstrated HPS pathology in seven (47%) patients, and five (33%) of them had received at least one form of treatment. APHD and DI persisted in all patients except in one in whom established gonadotrophin deficiency recovered. In summary, DI and APHD are very common in patients with multisystem LCH and are almost always associated with abnormal HPS imaging.     

Metastases from a pituitary adenoma: MRI

Few cases of pituitary adenoma with metastases have been reported. We report a case with histologically benign intracranial and cauda equina metastases. We compare it to the others in the literature. Received: 30 March 1998 Accepted: 22 January 1999     

TMJ disorders and pain: assessment by contrast-enhanced MRI

Though magnetic resonance (MRI) is a widely accepted standard for the assessment of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, efforts to correlate symptoms to MRI findings have often given controversial results. Aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between TMJ pain and findings of contrast-enhanced MRI. Thirty-eight consecutive patients with TMJ dysfunction syndrome (study group) were examined with MRI. Protocol included T2 turbo spin-echo sequence, T1 spin-echo sequence, and T2 gradient-echo (acquired with closed jaw, at intermediate and maximal opening). Post-contrast phase was obtained through a fat sat 3D T1 gradient-echo sequence (VIBE). Post-contrast findings in the study group were matched with those obtained in a control group of 33 patients submitted to MRI of the paranasal sinuses. Statistically significant difference was found between condylar medullary bone enhancement in painful TMJ, in painless TMJ and control group. In addition the average thickness of joint soft tissue enhancement in painful TMJ was superior to painless TMJ (p<0.0001) and to control group. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio that a painful TMJ showed disk displacement, osteoarthrosis, effusion and JST enhancement were 3.05, 3.18, 1.2 and 11.36, respectively. Though not histologically proven, TMJ enhancement could reflect the presence of inflammation in painful joints. Furthermore, the administration of contrast could be of help for the assessment of patients with orofacial pain, particularly when clinical exploration is insufficient to ascribe the pain to TMJ.     

MRI of pituitary adenomas in acromegaly

Adenomas causing acromegaly represent at least a quarter of pituitary adenomas. We studied 12 patients presenting with active acromegaly due to a pituitary adenoma with a 1.5 T superconductive MRI unit. All had T1-weighted sagittal and coronal sections before and after Gd-DTPA; six had coronal T2-weighted images. Surgical correlation was obtained in seven patients. Histologically, there were eight growth hormone (GH)-secreting and three mixed [GH and prolactin (PRL) secreting] adenomas, and one secreting GH, PRL and follicle-stimulating hormone. Macroadenomas (10) were more frequent than microadenomas (2). No correlation was found between serum GH and tumour size. There were nine adenomas in the lateral part of the pituitary gland; seven showed lateral or infrasellar invasion. Homogeneous, isointense signal on T1- and T2-weighted images was observed in six cases. Heterogeneous adenomas had cystic or necrotic components. Received: 29 April 1996 Accepted: 8 August 1996     

Dynamic Gd-DTPA enhanced breath-hold 1.5 t MRI of normal lungs and patients with interstitial lung disease and pulmonary nodules: preliminary results*

A FLASH technique was used, which encompassed the entire thorax in the transverse plane, before and after dynamic intravenous injection of godalinium DTPA (Gd-DTPA) to study 7 patients with normal lungs, 12 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and 11 patients with pulmonary nodules. Comparative CT studies were obtained within 2 weeks of the MRI study in the patients with lung disease. Quantitative signal intensity (SI) measurements were performed. Qualitative evaluation of lung parenchyma was determined in a prospective blinded fashion, and in the normal group comparison was made with the CT images. In normal patients, SI of lung parenchyma increased by 7.7 ± 1.3%. On precontrast images, second-order pulmonary branchings were visible while post-contrast, fifth-to sixth-order branches were apparent. In patients with ILD, interstitial changes enhanced to a variable ] substantial (308.4%). Detection of pulmonary nodules improved following contrast injection. The minimum lesion size detectable decreased from 8 mm precontrast to 5 mm post-contrast. Percentage contrast enhancement was greater for malignant nodules (124.2 ±79.7%) than benign nodules (5.8 ± 4.7%)(p<0.01).Society of North America, 1–6 December 1991, Chicago Correspondence to: R. C. SemelkaPresented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Radiological1     

垂体腺瘤侵袭海绵窦时颈内动脉的MRI表现

目的　研究垂体腺瘤对颈内动脉海绵窦段的影响以及垂体腺瘤侵袭海绵窦时颈内动脉的MRI表现。资料与方法　回顾分析 10 3例经病理证实的垂体腺瘤的MRI资料 ,测量两侧颈内动脉距中线距离、横径、被肿瘤包绕程度、颈内动脉间距 ,并与 15 0例非鞍区病变患者颈内动脉的MRI表现相比较。结果　非鞍区病变患者两侧颈内动脉海绵窦段间平均距离为 (17.0± 3.5 )mm ,而垂体腺瘤患者则为 (2 4 .4± 4 .2 )mm。颈内动脉间距与肿瘤横径明显相关 ,而与肿瘤体积的相关性相对不明显。海绵窦是否受侵犯与同侧颈内动脉被包绕范围明显相关 ,而与颈内动脉距中线距离及颈内动脉横径无关。结论　两侧颈内动脉间距仅能反映垂体腺瘤的大小 ,与侵袭性无关。海绵窦是否受侵与颈内动脉的移位、狭窄情况无关 ,而与颈内动脉的包绕程度相关 ,颈内动脉被肿瘤包绕范围 <1/ 3,海绵窦未受侵犯 ;若 >2 / 3,则海绵窦受侵犯。颈内动脉的包绕程度可作为评价垂体腺瘤是否侵袭海绵窦的指标     

原发性空泡蝶鞍综合征与头痛程度相关性的MRI研究

目的探讨原发性空泡蝶鞍综合征与头痛程度的关系。资料与方法对140例经临床证实为原发性空泡蝶鞍综合征患者的临床及MRI资料进行综合分析,计算其空蝶鞍分级,采用统计学方法分析其与头痛程度的关系。结果空蝶鞍分级与头痛程度之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论空蝶鞍分级与头痛程度之间无明确关系,临床需密切结合其他检验指标综合判断患者病情。