HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 2282020695v1 228/2/533    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hagiwara, A. Articles by Miyamoto, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hagiwara, A. Articles by Miyamoto, T.

Comparison of Growth Hormone–producing and Non–Growth Hormone–producing Pituitary Adenomas: Imaging Characteristics and Pathologic Correlation¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Kobe City General Hospital, Japan (A.H., T.T., T.M.); and Departments of Radiology (A.H., Y.I., T.T.) and Pathology (K.W., T.H.), Osaka City University Medical School, Japan. Received June 6, 2002; revision requested August 14; revision received September 17; accepted November 18. Address correspondence to A.H., Department of Radiology, Osaka City Juso Hospital, 2-12-27 Nonakakita, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka 532-0034, Japan (e-mail: y10509@zc5.so-net.ne.jp).

PURPOSE: To identify characteristic features of growth hormone (GH)–producing pituitary adenomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 174 pathologically proven pituitary adenomas were evaluated retrospectively on magnetic resonance (MR) images to determine the signal intensity (on T2-weighted images), maximum diameter, and amount of suprasellar and infrasellar extension. For microadenomas, sellar depth was also measured. GH–producing adenomas were classified at histologic evaluation as densely or sparsely granulated. Specimens from 38 adenomas were stained to assess the amounts of fibrous tissue, iron, and amyloid they contained. Results were correlated with the size and hormonal activity of adenomas by using the ², unpaired t, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS: Among 174 pituitary adenomas, 42 were GH–producing adenomas. Of these, 16 were densely granulated, and 24 were sparsely granulated (two histologic specimens were lost). Signal intensity was evaluated among 153 adenomas. On T2-weighted MR images, hypointensity was seen more commonly in adenomas that produced GH (16 of 40 cases [40%]; P < .001) than in those that did not; hypointensity was nearly exclusive to densely granulated GH–producing adenomas. The amounts of amyloid, fibrous tissue, and iron contained in adenomas demonstrated little relationship with signal intensity. Average suprasellar extension was significantly smaller in adenomas that produced GH (-0.8 mm) than in those that did not (5.3 mm) (P < .001). GH–producing adenomas tended to demonstrate infrasellar extension rather than suprasellar extension. Average sellar depth associated with GH–producing microadenomas (13.3 mm) was significantly greater than for non–GH-producing microadenomas (9.7 mm; P < .001).

CONCLUSION: Characteristic features regarding growth direction and T2 signal intensity can be identified for GH–producing adenomas.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Hormones • Pituitary, MR, 145.1214 • Pituitary, neoplasms, 145.372

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Tosaka, N. Sato, J. Hirato, H. Fujimaki, R. Yamaguchi, H. Kohga, K. Hashimoto, M. Yamada, M. Mori, N. Saito, et al. Assessment of Hemorrhage in Pituitary Macroadenoma by T2*-Weighted Gradient-Echo MR Imaging AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., November 1, 2007; 28(10): 2023 - 2029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Pierallini, F. Caramia, C. Falcone, E. Tinelli, A. Paonessa, A. B. Ciddio, M. Fiorelli, F. Bianco, S. Natalizi, L. Ferrante, et al. Pituitary Macroadenomas: Preoperative Evaluation of Consistency with Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging--Initial Experience Radiology, April 1, 2006; 239(1): 223 - 231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]