title: Prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenomas: inaccuracy of high-resolution CT imaging.
abstract: Computed tomographic (CT) and surgical findings were correlated retrospectively in 51 patients with preoperative diagnoses of prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenomas. Thirty-nine had microadenomas at surgery. Twenty-three had identifiable discrete lesions. Of these, 21 had microadenomas and two did not; these two groups could not be distinguished reliably. Six patients with proven microadenomas had normal CT scans. Focal hypodense lesions, sellar floor erosion, infundibulum displacement, gland height greater than 8 mm, and an abnormal diaphragma sellae configuration are neither sensitive nor specific findings of microadenoma. A significant number of patients with proven microadenomas had few or none of these abnormalities. Thus, recognition of prolactin microadenoma may not be possible by CT alone, even with high-resolution direct coronal imaging.
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin