Anand Hatgaonkar
Associate Professor B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune
Kajal Hatgaonkar
Consultant pathologist and Chief of Lal Pathology Laboratory, Pune
Abstract
Introduction: The pituitary gland is an essential organ in the human body, and a thorough comprehension of its anatomy and physiological alterations in size and shape is critical. The present study aimed to investigate the normal pituitary gland's size using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assess the mean normal volume concerning age and gender.
Methods: The study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2016, including 250 patients who had undergone brain MRIs in the Radio-diagnosis department at B.J. Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune. T1-weighted images were used to measure the gland's height, width, and length, while the post-contrast T1 MRI images were used to determine the volume and shape index.
Results: The patients' mean age was 46.3 years, ranging from 18 to 88 years, with 132 females and 118 males. The results of the study showed a notable reduction in the thyroid gland's volume as age increased (p>0.05), while the shape index remained stable (p=0.01). Age had no significant correlation with the gland's size, length, or volume. The study also found that the gland was larger in males than in females.
Conclusion: This study provides insight into the morphological changes of the pituitary gland as individuals age and the size differences between genders. These observations are essential in diagnosing pathological conditions and will be helpful in future studies.
Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, Postmenopausal, Puberty, Pituitary Gland.