title: Evaluation of diffusivity in pituitary adenoma: 3D turbo field echo with diffusion-sensitized driven-equilibrium preparation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diffusivity of pituitary adenoma has not been investigated fully. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of turbo field echo with diffusion-sensitized driven-equilibrium (DSDE-TFE) preparation for pituitary adenoma in the sella turcica and unaffected anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 23 adult patients with pituitary adenomas. Among them, 6 each were prolactin-producing adenomas and growth hormone-producing adenomas (GH) and the remaining 11 were non-functioning adenomas (NON). The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured in the pituitary adenoma and in the unaffected pituitary gland using coronal reformatted plane.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All pituitary adenomas were clearly visualized on DSDE-TFE and ADC maps without obvious geometrical distortion. There were no statistically significant differences in ADC of the all pituitary adenoma (1.50 ± 0.61 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1)) and the unaffected anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (1.49 ± 0.37 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1), p = 0.99). The ADC in prolactin-producing adenomas (2.04 ± 0.76 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1)) was significantly higher than that in GH (1.26 ± 0.47 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p < 0.05) and NON (1.33 ± 0.42 × 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between GH and NON (p = 0.97). The intraclass correlation coefficient for ADC was 0.985 in adenomas and 0.635 in unaffected glands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With its insensitivity to field inhomogeneity and high spatial resolution, DSDE-TFE proved a feasible method for evaluating the diffusivity in the pituitary gland and adenoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DSDE-TFE could enable us to assess ADC of pituitary adenoma in the sella turcica with high resolution and few susceptibility artefacts.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiwatashi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Togao
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazufumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: 2 MR Clinical Science, Philips Electronics Japan, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.|3 Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshiura
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult