ABSTRACT
Objective To make correct diagnosis for Rathke cleft cyst(RCC)and cystic pituitary adenomas(CPA)through retrospective analysis of characteristics of MRI.Methods RCC (n=30)and CPA (n=30)confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Following characteristics of lesions were observed:morphology,size,location,range,T1WI signal intensity and patterns of enhancement,presence of intracystic fluid level,septum,nodule,hypointense rim on T2WI and change of the pituitary stalk.The independent sample t-test and χ2 test were used respectively to analyze differences between two groups of continuous variables and categorical variables.Results Most of RCC were oval,less than 2 cm3,under the optic chiasm and within the bilateral cavernous sinus,various for signal intensity,without or with thin-walled contrast enhancement.Intracystic nodule accounted for 40% of cases and there were double cystic nodules in 1 case.Obvious contrast enhancement of intracystic nodule was found in 1 case.Pituitary stalk was in center.Most of CPA were snowman shaped,bigger than 2 cm3,off middle line location,with compression of the optic chiasm and sellar base,had thick-walled contrast enhancement,with intracystic fluid level and septum,had hypointense rim on T2WI.The pituitary stalk was shifted.Conclusion The MRI findings of RCC and CPA are significant differences in the shape,size,intracapsular structure,enhanced performance and changes of surrounding structure.