title: Age and sex related differences in normal pituitary gland and fossa volumes.
abstract: This study investigates the influence of age and sex on the volumes of the pituitary fossa and gland in 91 males and 108 females from Croatia who underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the endocranium for complaints not related to the pituitary gland. Isometric 3DT1 MPRAGE and 3DT1 MPR sequences were obtained on 1.5. Tesla and analysed on ISSA software. The volumes were obtained from the sum of all the areas multiplied by the thickness of the section. The mean volume of the pituitary fossa for males was 1111.1.4 mm3, for females 1354.4.2 mm3. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation (P=0.0.09) between age of the patient, and pituitary volume. Age of the patient and free volume demonstrate a significant positive correlation (P=0.0.01) indicating that the amount of unoccupied space in the pituitary fossa significantly increases with age. Determining general morphological values, as well as variations of pituitary depth and the occupation of the fossa with the pituitary gland is of great help in everyday diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Center \"Sestre Milosrdnice\", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Hrvoje Ivan
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Pecina
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tatjana Cicvara
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Pecina
authors.affiliation: Antropological Centre, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vlasta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vyroubal
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Mladen Sekso, University Hospital Center, Sestre Milosrdnice, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kruljac
authors.affiliation: Anthropological Center, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ante Kovacica 5, Zagreb 10000, Croatia, mario.slaus@zg.t-com.hr.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slaus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors