Question 1

what can a mri show on pituitary glands? my wife is going to get an mri done to examine her pituitary gland.  if there is something wrong with her hypothalamus instead, would the mri also show that?

Accepted Answer

MRI : Mri scans are excellent at showing detailed brain anatomy and certain kinds of pathology such as masses, tumors, hemorrhage (bleeding), infection, or inflammation. The hypothalamus is located very close to the pituitary, so a detailed pituitary study will also include a good look at the hypothalamus. If there is a major abnormality such as a tumor involving either structure, it should be visible on the mri. However, there are some abnormalities or diseases of these structures that may not be visible on the MRI because they are too small to be detected by imaging. For example, there may be an abnormality at a cellular or microscopic level that affects the endocrine function of these brain regions but does not produce a visible structural abnormality.

Question 2

what can cause the pituitary gland to show up bright white on mri with out contrast?

Accepted Answer

Posterior Pituitary: The posterior pituitary has intrinsic high t1 signal. It's thought to reflect the high concentration of neurosecretory granules in the neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary which stores/releases oxytocin ; vasopressin produced in hypothalamus). Absence of the normal posterior pituitary bright spot should prompt a search for an ectopic posterior pituitary that has failed to migrate from hypothalamus.

Question 3

had brain mri no contrast. the tech said she was concerned i had a abnormality on my pituitary gland cause it should up bright white. what does mean?

Accepted Answer

Pituitary: Follow up with your doctor.  Most abnormalities of the pituitary can be treated but don't take what the tech is saying as having meaning beyond the fact that you should follow up with the doctor who ordered it.

Question 4

how to know either it's from adrenal or pituitary gland that cause my hypocortisolism mri pituitary normal. acth level low.h/o exogenous steroid 2010.

Accepted Answer

Stimulate adrenals: Have your doctor do an adrenal stimulation test to check your adrenal response. Acth levels are often inaccurate and frequently not diagnostic. If you're on cortisone replacement already, it doesn't make much difference what the cause is, however your pituitary function can be analyzed one hormone at a time. Check w/an endocrinologist.

Question 5

can mri of brain see strokes/mini strokes and tumours on pituitary gland?

Accepted Answer

Pituitary: This is a very good question. If the radiologist is not aware that the pituitary gland is of concern things in this small gland may be missed. I understand that mris looking for trouble in the pituitary have to be more selective and get more views to rule in or rule out disease. But, if the radiologist knows of the concern then yes these can be seen.

Question 6

does a head mri both with and without contrast show if there is a problem or tumor in the pituitary gland?

Accepted Answer

Pituitary gland: Hi, yes, MRI is a very good imagining modality to evaluate posterior brain, but  But MRI might not detect microadenomas that are smaller than 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) across, follow up imaging if there is any doubt could be helpful.

Question 7

what hormones from the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and possibly thyroid cause calcitonin to be released?

Accepted Answer

Calcitonin: Calcitonin is not affected significantly by any of these.  Calcitonin does not do much of anything in humans.  When someone has a thyroidectomy, we don't give back calcitonin.

Question 8

can perinatal hypoxia cause damage to the hypothalamus and / or the pituitary gland?

Accepted Answer

Hypoxia: Perinatal hypoxia can cause cerebral damage of multiple types depending on how serious the hypoxia

Question 9

what conditions affecting the pituitary gland would show up in an mri?

Accepted Answer

Adenoma: A pituitary protocol MRI is designed to evaluate the pituitary gland. It is used to assess for adenomas , cystic masses, mixed cystic and solid masses, and dural based lesions such as a meningioma. The morphology of the pituitary gland is also evaluated to rule out structural abnormalities.

Question 10

is it normal to have white under & behind a pituitary gland on mri no contrast?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: The sella tursica (/part of skull bone) could be where you describe and appear white. Would need to know which phase of MRI and other specifics, in order to give better answer. Can ask to review with your dr for more information.

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Doctor answers about:

Can an MRI of pituitary detect problems with hypothalamus and all around pituitary gland to see if something pressing on pituitary causing dysfunction

A member asked:

What can a mri show on pituitary glands? my wife is going to get an mri done to examine her pituitary gland. if there is something wrong with her hypothalamus instead, would the mri also show that?

A member asked:

What can cause the pituitary gland to show up bright white on mri with out contrast?

A member asked:

Had brain mri no contrast. the tech said she was concerned i had a abnormality on my pituitary gland cause it should up bright white. what does mean?

A member asked:

How to know either it's from adrenal or pituitary gland that cause my hypocortisolism mri pituitary normal. acth level low.h/o exogenous steroid 2010.

A member asked:

Can mri of brain see strokes/mini strokes and tumours on pituitary gland?

A member asked:

Does a head mri both with and without contrast show if there is a problem or tumor in the pituitary gland?

A member asked:

What hormones from the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and possibly thyroid cause calcitonin to be released?

A member asked:

Can perinatal hypoxia cause damage to the hypothalamus and / or the pituitary gland?

A member asked:

What conditions affecting the pituitary gland would show up in an mri?

A member asked:

Is it normal to have white under & behind a pituitary gland on mri no contrast?

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