Question 1

can a pituitary mri be done without contrast?

Accepted Answer

Generally need : Pituitary MRI are generally done to look for something small, so generally adding Gadolinium (contrast in MRI) will make visualizing it much easier. You need to speak with your doctor and discuss it

Question 2

is an mri of the sella with & without contrast 70553 the same as an mri of the pituitary with & without contrast 70553 but with different vocabulary?

Accepted Answer

: yes

Question 3

is it safe to get an mri of the pituitary with & without contrast while on your period and is fasting required? if so for how many hours at least? will menstruation raise the risk of an allergic reaction from the contrast? thanks?

Accepted Answer

: During your period is no problem to do the MRI and your period does not affect the risk of an allergic reaction. During your cycle, hormonal changes may influence drug absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion; however, there is no clear pattern of the slight ways drugs are affected. Menstruation is not a reason to not do a procedure or a test in medicine typically.

Question 4

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.

Question 5

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 6

an mri (with contrast) of the pituitary shows the pituitary itself as a bright/white area, but there are a couple dark/black spots, a few mm in diameter, on it. what does dark indicate here, and what types of anomalies can they be?

Accepted Answer

: It is not feasible to comment on MRI images in absence of seeing the films themselves.  You could discuss this with the local radiologist, or if you wish, you could go to the paid portion of our site for a virtual consult where the films and report could be reviewed directly (www.connect@healthtap.com)

Question 7

can mri without contrast see pituitary tumour from cushings?

Accepted Answer

Yes it might: If it shows, then it has been useful. But one can not exclude its presence if  no contrast was used.. So if there is strong suspicion, then a repeat MRI with contrast may be more certain and more definitive study to rely on.

Question 8

could a mri with contrast fail to identify a pituitary tumor?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Most pituitary tumors are "microadenomas", meaning that they are less than 1 CM in size.  Mris done specifically to look for a pituitary tumor are very good at detecting tumors near 1 CM in size, and identify about 50% of tumors in the 0.3 CM size range, and would miss most tumors smaller than this.

Question 9

what does a mri of the pituitary gland check for? what kinds of abnormalities does it detect? mri is without and then with contrast

Accepted Answer

Pituitary anatomy: Greetings, a pituitary MRI +\-  contrast is done to evaluate the potential  causes of pituitary hormone abnormalities. Typically, this would be looking for a pituitary adenoma, a benign tumor that can make excess hormones (eg-Prolactin) or damage the pituitary resulting in low hormone levels.  Inflammation or a condition called an "empty sella" can also be seen and result in hormone problems.

Question 10

can a ct and mri without contrast  detect a pituitary tumour?

Accepted Answer

Yes it could: Ct is more dependent on contrast. But MRI has two phases(t1and t2) which can serve like a contrast and the tumors often show up better in t2 weighted images.

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Doctor answers about:

Mri pituitary without contrast

A member asked:

Can a pituitary mri be done without contrast?

A member asked:

Is an mri of the sella with & without contrast 70553 the same as an mri of the pituitary with & without contrast 70553 but with different vocabulary?

A member asked:

Is it safe to get an mri of the pituitary with & without contrast while on your period and is fasting required? if so for how many hours at least? will menstruation raise the risk of an allergic reaction from the contrast? thanks?

A member asked:

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

A member asked:

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

A member asked:

An mri (with contrast) of the pituitary shows the pituitary itself as a bright/white area, but there are a couple dark/black spots, a few mm in diameter, on it. what does dark indicate here, and what types of anomalies can they be?

A member asked:

Can mri without contrast see pituitary tumour from cushings?

A member asked:

Could a mri with contrast fail to identify a pituitary tumor?

A member asked:

What does a mri of the pituitary gland check for? what kinds of abnormalities does it detect? mri is without and then with contrast

A member asked:

Can a ct and mri without contrast detect a pituitary tumour?

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