CT scan of pituitary adenomas.
CT scan is an extremely useful, almost harmless means of diagnosing pituitary adenomas. Growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas tent to have higher absorption coefficient on plain CT than the nonfunctioning and prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenomas. The absorption coefficient on contrasting enhanced CT does not identify the specific type of adenoma. Ring-like enhancement was observed in five nonfunctioning and four PRL-secreting adenomas with suprasellar extension, while cystic components were observed in four nonfunctioning and four PRL-secreting adenomas. In three of ten cases of PRL-microadenomas, the site corresponding to the adenoma was not enhanced, whereas the normal pituitary was. A correlation exists between the size of PRL-secreting adenoma and the serum PRL level, but not between the size of GH-secreting adenomas and the serum GH level.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone