NORMAL MR APPEARANCE OF THE PITUITARY-GLAND IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF LIFE

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the size, shape, and signal intensi ty of the pituitary gland during the first 2 years of life. METHODS: O ne hundred consecutive MR studies, spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted seque nces, of children 0 to 2 years of age were analyzed. Signal intensity and shape of the gland were graded and its signal intensity measured. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the signa l intensity of both the anterior and posterior pituitary gland and in the shape between children younger than and older than 6 weeks of age and younger than and older than 27 weeks of age. There were definite t rends in the size of the gland with age (decrease in height and increa se in anteroposterior diameter and width). CONCLUSIONS: There are chan ges in the pituitary gland in the newborn period that may reflect the ongoing changes in pituitary hormones reported to occur during this ti me.