J Korean Radiol Soc.  1989 Jun;25(3):343-352. 10.3348/jkrs.1989.25.3.343.

Histomorphologic study of the pituitary glands of Korean cadavers and correlation with computed tomography andmagnetic resonance imaging

• Kim DI
• Chung IH
• Suh JH

• KMID: 2359095
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1989.25.3.343

Abstract

Histomorphological analysis of the pituitary glands of 62 Korean adult cadavers was performed, and its resultswere compared to the findings of high resolution CT scan in 6 cases and magnetic resonance imaging in 2 cases. The CT attenuation density of pituitary glands was also evaluated with coronal scans of 103 normal Korean adults whohad no clinical evidence of pituitary abnormalities. The pituitary gland was classified into 4 types based on the contours of superior margin of the glands; slightly convex(type I & type II), slightly concave(type III) and deeply concave (type IV), Among them type III was the most common (44.4%). The size and shape of each lobe ofgland were varied. The mean length and height of gland were 10.9±1.4mm and 4.6±1.2mm. Rathke's cleft cysts over 0.5mm in diameter was found in 54.8%, but it rarely exceeded 3mm in dianeter. Rathke's cleft cysts were commonly located at the middle one third between anterior lobe and pars intermedia of pituitary gland. The CT attenuation density of pituitary gland varied depending on the anatomic location and was roughly corresponding to the compactness of cellularity. Focal low attenuation density areas could be considered to represent Rathke's cleftcysts. In one of two pituitary glands, the posterior lobe showed high signal intensity in T1-weighted MRI, whichwas not corresponding to the intrasellary fat pad or cellularity of gland.

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adult
Cadaver*
Central Nervous System Cysts
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Pituitary Gland*
Pituitary Gland, Intermediate
Tomography, X-Ray Computed