Pituitary stalk and ectopic hyperintense T1 signal on magnetic resonance imaging. Implications for anterior pituitary dysfunction
M. C. Ultmann, S. F. Siegel, W. L. Hirsch, D. N. Finegold and T. P. Foley Jr
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pa.
OBJECTIVE--To determine if improved delineation of hypothalamic-pituitary
neuroanatomy by magnetic resonance imaging, especially the posterior
pituitary hyperintense T1 signal, can be correlated with anterior and
posterior pituitary endocrine function. DESIGN--Children with ectopic
posterior pituitary tissue were identified at the Endocrine Clinic of the
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Pa) and their records were reviewed.
PARTICIPANTS--Ten children with ectopic posterior pituitary tissue.
MEASUREMENTS--Anterior pituitary hormone status, determined by standard
testing, was correlated with the morphologic anomalies of the
hypothalamic-pituitary region on magnetic resonance imaging.
RESULTS--Patients were categorized by the appearance of the pituitary stalk
based on the magnetic resonance image: attenuation of the stalk (group 1)
or nonvisualization of the stalk (group 2). Patients in group 1 retained
partial anterior pituitary function. Patients in group 2 had
panhypopituitarism. CONCLUSION--Prospective evaluation of affected
individuals may provide insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms of
idiopathic hypopituitarism.
