ASSESSMENT OF PITUITARY MICROADENOMAS - COMPARISON BETWEEN 2D AND 3D MR SEQUENCES

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value and image qu ality of two different T-1-weighted MR sequences in the evaluation of PRL-secreting pituitary microadenomas. Twenty-four patients with a cli nical diagnosis of pituitary microprolactinoma were prospectively exam ined with both a 2D SE and a 3D turbo-SE T-1-weighted coronal sequence , before and after intravenous contrast medium administration. Evaluat ion of MR images was done only on postcontrast images and considered t he number of slices in which the lesions were visible and image qualit y, which was evaluated by both a subjective score and objective parame ters (signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios), Pituitary micropr olactinomas are visible in a higher number of slices in 3D TSE sequenc es; the subjective scores for image quality and signal-to-noise ratios were similar in both 2D and 3D sequences; the contrast-to-noise ratio was always higher in 3D sequences, In patients with hyperprolactinemi a, the authors recommend using coronal 3D TSE T-1-weighted sequences f or evaluation of the pituitary region, 2D SE T-1-weighted sequences ma y be considered if a shorter examination time is required (i.e., for c laustrophobic patients) and in assessment or follow-up of microadenoma s when a larger size lesion is clinically suspected, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.