PITUITARY VOLUME IN MEN WITH CONCURRENT HEROIN AND COCAINE DEPENDENCE

Pituitary gland volume was measured in 16 men between the ages of 26-3 3 with magnetic resonance imaging. Eight male patients had a Diagnosti c and Statistical Manual III-Revised, American Psychiatric Association Axis I diagnosis of concurrent opioid and cocaine dependence. The ave rage duration of opioid and cocaine abuse was 7.8 +/- 2.0 and 6.9 +/- 1.4 yr, respectively. All patients were in good physical health as det ermined by physical examination, blood chemistry, hemogram and hormone analysis, and all tested negatively for the HIV antibody. No patient had any other Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III-Revised Axis I dia gnosis or neurological disorder. Eight healthy males served as age-mat ched control subjects. None of the control subjects had any past or cu rrent history of substance abuse or any clinical indication for magnet ic resonance imaging. Opioid and cocaine dependent men had significant ly larger pituitary gland volumes (730.0 +/- 24.4 mm3) than control su bjects (540.0 +/- 26.6 mm3) (P < 0.01). The significant increase in pi tuitary gland volume in men who abuse opiates and cocaine may be antec edent to detection of abnormal anterior pituitary hormone function.