Study of high signal intensity of the posterior pituitary on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with space occupying lesion in sellar region

Abstract

Objective To observe the changes of high signal intensity of the posterior pituitary on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with space occupying lesion in sellar region. Methods From December 2012 to December 2014, 189 consecutive patients (pituitary adenoma 123, craniopharyngioma 26, Rathke cyst 22, and saddle nodules meningioma 18) with space occupying lesion in the sellar region admitted to Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military command and confirmed by pathology were enrolled retrospectively. MRI images and pathological analysis were conducted. The occurrence of posterior pituitary bright spot (PPBS) of different lesions and their positions were analyzed. Results In 189 patients, 119 (63%) occurred PPBS. The occurrence rate of PPBS in patients with pituitary adenoma was 79.7% (98/123), that of craniopharyngioma was 3.8% (1/26), Rathke's cleft cyst was 9.1% (2/22), and tuberculum sellae meningioma was 100% (18/18). There were significant differences in the occurrence rate of PPBS in patients with different lesions (P<0.01). PPBS could be located inside the sella (n=35), outside the sella (n=48), or inside and outside the sella (n=15) in patients with pituitary adenoma. The PPBSs of the latter three located in the sellae. Conclusions There are differences in the occurrence rate and location of PPBS in patients with space occupying lesions in the sellar region. They may be helpful in the identification of different lesions. Key words: Magnetic resonance imaging; Sellar lesions; Posterior pituitary bright spot