title: Imaging of the pituitary and parasellar region.
abstract: The pituitary is part of a chain of enormous biologic amplification, which is regulated by a small amount of releasing factors in the portal blood from the hypothalamus. The pituitary is a master gland that regulates a number of hormones. A subtle abnormality in the pituitary can cause significant changes in body metabolism. Because the pituitary glands are small structures, high-resolution imaging techniques are required to satisfactorily evaluate the gland. It is imperative for the radiologist to be familiar with the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the pituitary gland, which provides a solid foundation for accurate interpretation of the imaging studies of the pituitary gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging, University of Southern California University Hospital, 1500 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. chishing@usc.edu
authors.forename: Chi S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Zee
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018237:Germinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006393:Hemangiopericytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed