Normal development of the pituitary gland: Assessment with three-dimensional MR volumetry

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Currently available data on pituitary volume have b een based on indirect methods of measurement and are mostly limited to admi t: populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal devel opment of pituitary volume by means of direct measurements made on thin-sec tion 3D MR acquisitions, METHODS: The volume of the normal pituitary gland in children and adolescen ts was measured by using 3D MR sequences with a section thickness of 0.6 to 0.75 mm. The clinical study group consisted of 199 pediatric patients with clinically normal pituitary function and no abnormal findings on routine M R studies. The volume of the posterior pituitary was also measured in all t he subjects. RESULTS: A phantom study revealed measurement errors within 25%. In the cli nical study, the measured pituitary volumes showed a growth spurt during pu berty, which was more prominent in girls. Posterior pituitary volumes showe d gradual growth without such a spurt, Among 5- to 9-year-olds, the posteri or pituitary volumes were significantly larger fur boys than for girls, CONCLUSION: Normal development of the pituitary gland and posterior pituita ry was determined by means of 3D MW volumetry. With this technique, we foun d a gender difference ire the volume of the posterior pituitary.