Imageology study of sellar turica and its potential role on growth of pituitary adenoma

Abstract

Objective To study imageology anatomy concerned of sellar turica and explore its potential role on growth of pituitary adenomas. Methods According to classification of sinus sphenoidalis,103 normal imageology data of sellar turica region were analyzed, including 83 cases with entire saddle type sinus sphenoidalis and 20 cases anti-saddle type sinus sphenoidalis. Furthermore, the clinical data of 45 cases of pituitary adenomas with extension into sinus sphenoidalis were retrospectively studied. Results The relationship between sellar floor's shapes and sinus sphenoidals'types was that the larger the sinus sphenoidalis was, the deeper the floor was(98.8%). The relationship between sellar floor's shapes and the superior surface of hypophysis was that most of depressed sellar floors were companied with depressed superior surfaces of hypophysises(93.8%). The anteroposterior shapes of sellar turica in midsagittal can be divided into 4 types such as bag-type, kettle-type, tube-type, and sifter-type. 45 patients suffering from pituitary adenoms with extension into sinus sphenoidalis all had entire saddle type sinus sphenoidalis. Conclusions The imageology anatomy concerned of sellar turica could explain the phenomena of pituitary adenomas with extension toward sellar floor and sinus sphenoidalis. Referring to the literatures concerned, it indicated that the imageology anatomy was the key factor of affecting the growth of pituitary adenomas. Key words: Sella turcica/AH/RI/US; Pituitary neoplasms/PP/RI/US