MRI IN HEMOCHROMATOSIS - PITUITARY VERSUS TESTICULAR IRON DEPOSITION IN 5 PATIENTS WITH HYPOGONADISM

Haemochromatosis is a disease characterised by iron deposition in the liver and other organs. Hypogonadism is a commonly associated conditio n and may be either primary due to testicular lesions or secondary due to pituitary dysfunction. Hypogonadism secondary to pituitary dysfunc tion is more frequent and is thought to be related to iron deposition in the anterior pituitary. Increased iron content decreases signal int ensity of spin-echo MRI images because T2 values are significantly sho rtened. Our purpose in this study was to evaluate by MRI iron depositi on in the liver, testis and pituitary of 6 patients with haemochromato sis and severe hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Six subjects served as controls. There was a significant T2 shortening of the liver and pitui tary in patients with haemochromatosis compared with control patients. Therefore MRI detected iron overload in the pituitary and no iron in the testis, supporting the hypothesis of hypogonadotrophic pituitary i nsufficiency due to cellular damage induced by iron overload in the an terior pituitary gland.