Pituitary stalk thickening: the role of an innovative MRI imaging analysis which may assist in determining clinical management.

Context: Disease processes that affect the pituitary stalk are broad; the diagnosis and management of these lesions remains unclear.

Objective: The aim was to assess the clinical, biochemical and histopathological characteristics of pituitary stalk lesions and their association with specific MRI features in order to provide diagnostic and prognostic guidance.

Design And Methods: Retrospective observational study of 36 patients (mean age 37years, range: 4-83) with pituitary stalk thickening evaluated at a university hospital in Oxford, UK, 2007-2015.

Early hemofiltration improves survival in post-cardiotomy patients with acute renal failure.

Objective: The application and timing of hemofiltration (continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, CVVH) in patients with acute renal failure (ARF) post cardiac surgery has been called into question because of uncertain short-term outcome. The aim of the present study was to identify how the timing of introduction of hemofiltration affects the morbidity and mortality in patients with ARF after cardiac surgery.

Methods: 1264 consecutive patients who underwent adult cardiac surgical procedures performed between January 2002 and January 2003 were audited.