Computed tomography in diagnosing pituitary tumours in rats – the authors’ own observations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present cases of rats with suspected pituitary tumours and the application of computed tomography in diagnosing pituitary tumours in rats. The study included 25 animals with symptoms suggestive of pituitary tumours (ataxia, paralyses, strabismus). The animals were submitted to a detailed clinical examination and computed tomography (CT). The CT confirmed pituitary tumours in 20 out of 25 animals. Additionally, this study enabled the proof of a definite correlation between the size of the pituitary tumour and clinical symptoms observed in sick animals. This article presents the usefulness of tomography examination in diagnosing pituitary tumours in rats and it is the first paper of this kind in Poland. However, it should be borne in mind that a CT without the use of a contrast medium only allows for the identification of neoplasm in some cases. It is the contrast-computed tomography that significantly increases diagnostic chances of this method in identification and evaluation of the size, shape and contour of proliferative lesions of the brain region in rats.