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MRI of pituitary macroadenomas with reference to hormonal activity

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Summary

In 115 patients with pituitary macroadenomas, the findings on mid-field MRI were correlated with the hormonal activity of the tumours. Adenomas secreting growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and clinically nonsecretory adenomas were studied. Tumour size, invasiveness and signal intensity patterns were recorded. Relaxation times and ratios of signal intensity and proton density (relative to the corpus callosum) were analysed in areas of apparently solid tissue in a subgroup of 59 previously untreated patients. Invasiveness was more common in PRL-and GH-secreting adenomas than in the nonsecreting ones. Diffuse invasion of the base of the skull was most common in prolactinomas, and associated with a lower frequency of suprasellar tumour extension. In prolactinomas, a correlation was found between the maximum serum PRL level and tumour size. Haemorrhagic, cystic or necrotic areas were less common in GH-secreting tumours than in the other types. Haemorrhage was more common in prolactinomas than in nonsecreting tumours. MR parameters were similar in prolactinomas and nonsecreting adenomas, but indicated a smaller amount of water in GH-secreting tumours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden

    P. Lundin & R. Nyman

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden

    P. Burman

  3. Department of Neurology, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden

    P. O. Lundberg & C. Muhr

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  1. P. Lundin
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  2. R. Nyman
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  4. P. O. Lundberg
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  5. C. Muhr
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Lundin, P., Nyman, R., Burman, P. et al. MRI of pituitary macroadenomas with reference to hormonal activity. Neuroradiology 34, 43–51 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588432

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