Pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging appearance of the normal residual pituitary gland following macroadenoma resection: Clinical implications.

Background: To assess the relationship between the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the normal residual pituitary gland (NRPG) and pituitary functional outcome following transsphenoidal resection of pituitary macroadenomas.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 100 consecutive patients with a pituitary macroadenoma, who underwent transsphenoidal resection. The preoperative configuration of the displaced NRPG was stratified as superior, superolateral or lateral.

Management of Rathke's cleft cysts.

Background: Incidental diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) has increased due to the improvements in imaging techniques; however, symptomatic cases are rare and accurate preoperative diagnosis can be difficult.

Methods: Files and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 10 surgically treated patients with RCC and 8 conservatively managed cases with a suspected diagnosis were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical, radiological, and histological features as well as intraoperative findings were scrutinized.

Distortion of normal pituitary structures in sellar pathologies on MRI.

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the displacement patterns and shifts of the normal pituitary gland in sellar pathologies on MRI and to determine if the position of the bright spot (BS) represents a predicting factor for the position of the residual adenohypophysis (RAH) in pathological conditions.

Methods: In a control group of 102 patients without any pituitary pathology, the presence of the BS was evaluated. In 100 patients with intra- or suprasellar pathologies, presence and respective topography of BS and RAH were scrutinized on MRI, according to lesion type, size, endocrine status and intra-operative findings in the surgical group.