Correlative Study Between Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pituitary Gland in 80 Patients with Hyperprolactinemia

Abstract

The possibility of studying sellar and parasellar regions with CT (Brown et al. 1983; Hemminghytt et al. 1983) and MR (Mark et al. 1984; Bilaniuk et al. 1984), taking in consideration both parenchymal and bone structures, offers a great opportunity for the evaluation of pituitary neoplasms. Doubts still persist about small ones, particularly under 10 mm in diameter (microadenomas) since recent studies report possible false-positive CT findings of over 40% (Kendall 1983; Chambers et al. 1982). On the other hand, autopsy series found a microadenoma in 22.5%−45% of endocrinologically normal patients (McComb et al. 1982; Parent et al. 1982; Taylor and Jaffe 1983). The presence of a prolactin (PRL) secreting microadenoma is the most frequent occurrence. Currently, these tumors are successfully treated with medical therapy, which is able to avoid surgery in most cases (McComb et al. 1982; Parent et al. 1982). Therefore, only a strict clinical correlation can support the radiological evaluation. For this reason, if the diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia needs laboratory assay, that of prolactinoma needs the demonstration of morphological alterations of the pituitary gland. Moreover, since medical therapy needs a morphological follow-up, MR could be first choice for the safer ability to investigate the pituitary gland.