Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
PEDIATRIC RADIOLOGY, cilt.53, sa.3, ss.450-460, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often the first modality of choice in the detection of pituitary pathologies due to its excellent contrast resolution and high spatial resolution. However, evaluating the size of the pituitary gland is somewhat difficult since the gland morphology varies widely among individuals. Objective The aim of this study was to provide normal reference values for pituitary volumes in the pediatric population using three-dimensional (3-D) MRI data. We also aimed to compare the volumetric data measured through 3-D images with the mathematical volumes obtained by the ellipsoid formula from 2-D images, considering the demographic subgroups of age and sex. Materials and methods This study was performed retrospectively using PACS-archived brain MRIs obtained in the Pediatric Radiology Unit. Eight hundred children under the age of 18 who underwent brain MRI between January 2014 and May 2018 for headaches, seizures or trauma and who had no brain anomaly or endocrine pathology were recruited. Pituitary volumes were separately calculated from those brain MRIs by means of ellipsoid formula and volumetry. The mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum and median values were achieved for each 1-year age group in both sexes. Normal reference ranges containing 5th -10th -25th -50th -75th -90th -95th percentiles of volumetric pituitary values were tabulated. Results Pituitary gland volumes in both sexes were found to increase gradually with age. The average 3-D volume values were greater in girls than boys except for the age groups 1-2 years and 8-9 years. Pituitary volumes showed a growth spurt during early puberty, which was more prominent in girls. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was noted between the 2-D calculated and 3-D measured volumes in both sexes. Conclusion Normative data obtained through this study can be used for clinical diagnostic purposes as well as a reference for future research. The 2-D calculated volumes be used where it is not possible to obtain 3-D volumetric values.