title: [Clinical observation of the microanatomical relation between pituitary stalk and pituitary adenoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the microanatomical relation between the pituitary stalk and pituitary adenoma so as to find practical approach to protect the pituitary stalk during operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the level of diaphragm sellae, the laterality of pituitary stalk was assessed in 71 cases by its location to the line connecting the mid-points of tuberculum sellae and dorsum sellae. In 46 cases the level of diaphragma sellae was regarded as the clock dial so as to determine the location by hour of the pituitary stalk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The laterality of pituitary stalk was observed in 61 cases, among which the pituitary stalk was on the left side in 17 cases, on the right side in 41 cases, and at the posterior middle site in 13 cases. Location by hour was observed in 46 cases, among which 13 cases were at 5 o'clock, 11 at 6 o'clock, 7 at 7 o'clock, 5 at 4 o'clock, 4 at 3 o'clock, 2 at 2 o'clock, 2 at o'clock, and 2 at 11 o'clock respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The location of pituitary stalk is related to the direction of growth of tumor in the sella and not related to its extension above the sella. The pituitary stalk can be used as the marker to find normal pituitary tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*