J Korean Radiol Soc.
1988 Feb;24(1):38-47. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.1.38.
Normal CT measurement of sellar and juxtasellar structures
- KMID: 2359308
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.1.38
Abstract
- The though knowledge of precise anatomy of the sellar, parasellar and suprasellar regions and of normal CTfeatures in those areas are very important because there are many tiny but essential structures in which pathologymakes only minute changes and so meticulous investigations are required. We performed direct coronal thin sectionCT scan of sellar and juxtasellar regions in 58 cases in order to evaluate normal CT features such as CT densties,shapes and sizes of normal sellar and juxtasellar structures. The resutls obtained are as follows: 1. The CTdensities of pituitary glands were 87±23 in anterior lobe and 69±22 in posterior lobe. The latter wassignificantly less dense than the former. Posterior lobes could be identified as oval low density area in sagittalreconstruction in 18/53(315). Mean pituitary height was 6.5±1.5mm. In young females of childbearing age, meanheight was 7.0±1.7mm. Upper margins of pituitary glands were flat in 29 cases (50%), upward convex in 16cases(28%), and upward concave in 13 cases(22%), Upper margins of pituitary glands were upward convex in 8/15(53%)of young female of childbearing age. Pituitary densities were homogeneous in 36 cases(77%) and heterogeneous in 7cases(15%), and 4 cases(7%) show focal pituitary low density that is greater than 3mm in diameter. 2. Moderate tosevere degree of cisternal herniation was found in 10 cases(17%); only 1 case before the age of 30, and 9 casesafter the age of 30. 3. The lateral margins of carvernous sinus were bilaterally flat in 42 cases(72%),bilaterally convex in 3 cases (5%), unilaterally convex in 12 cases(21%), and unilaterally concave only in 1case(2%). The third cranial nerves were found as symmetirc filling defects in superolateral aspect of anteriorcavernous sinus in most of the cases, the maximal size of which was 2.7±0.9mm in diameter and did not exceed3.5mm. The other cranial nerves were less frequently identified as smaller defects within the cavernous sinus, andusually not differentiated from one another. 4. The mean density of pituitary stalk was 65±17 and mean width ofit was 2.5±0.5mm. Stalks were vertical in midline in 51 cases (88%), and oblique in 7 cases(12%). 5. The meanthickness of sellar floors was 1.5±0.7mm and 17 cases(29%) shows suspicious bony discontinuity in sellar floor.
