title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Determination of Normal Pituitary Gland Dimensions in Zaria, Northwest Nigerian Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the dimensions of normal pituitary gland using T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) and to determine their relationship with age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cranial MRI scans of 100 individuals with clinically normal pituitary function (58 males and 42 females) and in the age range 14-82 years were reviewed in order to obtain volumetric measurements of the pituitary gland. The height, width, and depth of the pituitary were obtained from mid-sagittal and coronal planes, while the volume was calculated from these measured parameters. The data obtained were stratified based on age and sex for analysis. Statistical tests applied included Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. A minimum level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pituitary volumes were 334.1 ± 145.8 mm(3) and 328.1 ± 129.2 mm(3) while the mean pituitary heights were 6.45 ± 1.7 mm and 6.46 ± 1.57 mm in males and females, respectively. Although there was no statistically significant difference between pituitary height and pituitary volume in both sexes, they correlated negatively with increasing age (r = -202, P = 0.04 and r = -410, P = 0.000, respectively). Both parameters were highest in pubertal subjects and declined steadily with age, with a second peak occurring only for pituitary height in the sixth decade. The mean pituitary widths (9.08 ± 2.59 mm and 9.21 ± 1.86 mm) and depths (10.59 ± 1.71 mm and 10.49 ± 1.57 mm) in males and females, respectively, did not show remarkable changes with age and sex in the individuals studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With this study, we have provided reference values in Nigerian population for the dimensions of normal pituitary gland, in order to facilitate assessment and diagnosis in patients with abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Endocrine Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Philip Oluleke
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ibinaiye
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Endocrine Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sefia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olarinoye-Akorede
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Endocrine Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olugbenga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kajogbola
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adamu Girei
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bakari
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; normal; pituitary gland; volume