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What Does My Report Of MRI On My Pituitary Gland Indicate?
Question: Hello, I recently had an MRI on my pituitary gland and needed help with the image result reports
Indication: Suspected pituitary neoplasm
Technique: Axial proton density scans of the brain without contrast and thin section coronal and sigittal T1-weighted scans of the pituitary without contrast. Thin section coronal and sagittal T1-weighted scans of the pituitary with contrast and axial and coronal T1-Weighted scans of the brain with contrast have been obtained.
Findings: The pituitary stalk is midline. The pituitary gland is of normal height and 4mm in height. There does appear to be homogeneous enhancement of the pituitary gland and no focal pituitary mass is identified on this study. There is no evidence of suprasellar extension of the pituitary and the optic chiasm appears unremarkable. The cavernous sinuses have an unremarkable MR apperance. There is a 5 mm focus on T2 prolongation seen in the inferior aspect of the left frontal love medially on the proton density images and ther is no definite abnormal enhancement seen in this region .
Impression: No pituitary mass identified on this study. A pituitary microadenoma cannot be excluded on the basis of this study. Clinical correlation is advised.
5 mm focus on T2 Prolognation in the inferior aspect of the left frontal lobe which is non specific. This could be due to s small focus of mucosal thickening in a superior left-sided ethmoid air cell with partial volume averaging causing this appearance although etiology such as a small focus of prior infraction, inflammatory etiology or other etiology is not excluded. Suggest MRI of the brain in further evaluation with coronal imaging through that region.
Indication: Suspected pituitary neoplasm
Technique: Axial proton density scans of the brain without contrast and thin section coronal and sigittal T1-weighted scans of the pituitary without contrast. Thin section coronal and sagittal T1-weighted scans of the pituitary with contrast and axial and coronal T1-Weighted scans of the brain with contrast have been obtained.
Findings: The pituitary stalk is midline. The pituitary gland is of normal height and 4mm in height. There does appear to be homogeneous enhancement of the pituitary gland and no focal pituitary mass is identified on this study. There is no evidence of suprasellar extension of the pituitary and the optic chiasm appears unremarkable. The cavernous sinuses have an unremarkable MR apperance. There is a 5 mm focus on T2 prolongation seen in the inferior aspect of the left frontal love medially on the proton density images and ther is no definite abnormal enhancement seen in this region .
Impression: No pituitary mass identified on this study. A pituitary microadenoma cannot be excluded on the basis of this study. Clinical correlation is advised.
5 mm focus on T2 Prolognation in the inferior aspect of the left frontal lobe which is non specific. This could be due to s small focus of mucosal thickening in a superior left-sided ethmoid air cell with partial volume averaging causing this appearance although etiology such as a small focus of prior infraction, inflammatory etiology or other etiology is not excluded. Suggest MRI of the brain in further evaluation with coronal imaging through that region.
Brief Answer:
MRI
Detailed Answer:
The radiologist has not noted any categorical evidence of any pituitary tumor. However, as (s)he has further mentioned that a very small tumor cannot be excluded.
By micro adenoma, one is referring to pituitary tumors that are less than 1 centimeter in size.
These are the ones that the radiologist comments mention that cannot be excluded with certainty.
It appears you underwent a pituitary focused MRI, which is the correct test to be performed when a pituitary problem is suspected. Because the rest of the brain is not imaged in detail during this test, a cursory glance is still made over the brain during the pituitary MRI scan. Incidentally a small 5 mm focus was noted that will require more in-depth MRI to examine and characterize in detail.
MRI
Detailed Answer:
The radiologist has not noted any categorical evidence of any pituitary tumor. However, as (s)he has further mentioned that a very small tumor cannot be excluded.
By micro adenoma, one is referring to pituitary tumors that are less than 1 centimeter in size.
These are the ones that the radiologist comments mention that cannot be excluded with certainty.
It appears you underwent a pituitary focused MRI, which is the correct test to be performed when a pituitary problem is suspected. Because the rest of the brain is not imaged in detail during this test, a cursory glance is still made over the brain during the pituitary MRI scan. Incidentally a small 5 mm focus was noted that will require more in-depth MRI to examine and characterize in detail.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What do you mean by "5mm focus was noted" can you elaborate further on this?
Also, the report notes of a mucolous thickening. Would you esplain?
If I was your patient..what would be the next course of action?
Also, the report notes of a mucolous thickening. Would you esplain?
If I was your patient..what would be the next course of action?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
To elaborate on this 'focus' it could be one of several things as the radiologist has also tried to explain:
1 'Artefact': meaning there is no real brain problem but the air cells of the ethmoid sinus that is very close to that part of the brain is giving a misleading impression that it is abnormality of the brain.
The ethmoid sinus is an air filled area of the skull/facial bone. It is normally present in humans as are several other sinuses in the facial bones.
2 Scar tissue after previous tissue death due to lack of blood flow, such as occurs after a stroke
3 'Inflammation' is a collection of blood cells and 'connective' tissue that accumulates as part of the body's defense system whenever there is damage regardless of causes. Potential causes include trauma or infections.
These are some of the possibilities.
To get a better idea of what this represents, the radiologist has advised a general brain MRI, as opposed to this pituitary-dedicated MRI.
I would proceed in the same way
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
To elaborate on this 'focus' it could be one of several things as the radiologist has also tried to explain:
1 'Artefact': meaning there is no real brain problem but the air cells of the ethmoid sinus that is very close to that part of the brain is giving a misleading impression that it is abnormality of the brain.
The ethmoid sinus is an air filled area of the skull/facial bone. It is normally present in humans as are several other sinuses in the facial bones.
2 Scar tissue after previous tissue death due to lack of blood flow, such as occurs after a stroke
3 'Inflammation' is a collection of blood cells and 'connective' tissue that accumulates as part of the body's defense system whenever there is damage regardless of causes. Potential causes include trauma or infections.
These are some of the possibilities.
To get a better idea of what this represents, the radiologist has advised a general brain MRI, as opposed to this pituitary-dedicated MRI.
I would proceed in the same way
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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