title: Craniovertebral anomalies associated with pituitary gland duplication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An extremely rare occurrence of the pituitary gland duplication inspired us to examine in detail the accompanying craniovertebral congenital anomalies in a patient involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  T1-wighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, as well as the multislice computerised tomography (MSCT) and MSCT angiography in our patient, as well as in a control group of 10 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a 20-year-old male a double pituitary gland was identified, as well as hypothalamic enlargement, tuberomamillary fusion and hamartoma. In addition, the patient also showed a duplicated hypophyseal fossa and posterior clinoid processes, notch of the upper sphenoid, prominent inner relief of the skull, inverse shape of the foramen magnum, third occipital condyle, partial aplasia of the anterior and posterior arches of the atlas with a left arcuate foramen, duplication of the odontoid process and the C2 body, and fusion of the C2-C4 and T12-L1 vertebrae. The MSCT angiography presented a segmental dilatation of both vertebral arteries and the A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery, as well as a duplication of the basilar artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This patient is unique due to complex craniovertebral congenital anomalies associated with a duplication of the pituitary gland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Milić
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samardžić
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Djorić
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tasić
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Djulejić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine. mocamarinkovic@med.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marinković
keywords: atlas aplasia; craniovertebral anomalies; odontoid duplication; pituitary duplication; third occipital condyle; vertebrae fusion