ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe and research the diagnostic value of enhanced MRI of pituitary for pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) and explore the correlation between enhanced MRI and pituitary target gland function damage.Methods: 80 patients with PSIS were divided into part of pituitary stalk interruption group (38cases) and complete pituitary stalk interruption group (42cases). And 80 healthy people were divided into control group. The relative hormonal level of three groups were detected, and the correlation between appearance of MRI and insufficient hormonal type, amount and severity degree were analyzed.Results: In part of pituitary stalk interruption group, the heights of anterior pituitary gland were less than 3mm in 10 cases, and they were between 3-5mm in 23 cases and they were more than 5mm in 5 cases. And in them, there were 4 cases were posterior pituitary deficiency, 15 cases were heterotopia, 11 cases were volume diminished. In complete pituitary stalk interruption group, the heights of anterior pituitary gland were less than 3mm in 23 cases, and they were between 3-5mm in 16 cases and they were more than 5mm in 3 cases. And in them, there were 8 cases were posterior pituitary deficiency, 32 cases were heterotopia, 1 cases were volume diminished. All of the hormonal levels included growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor, free thyroxine, serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in complete pituitary stalk interruption group were significantly lower than that in part of pituitary stalk interruption group and control group (F=224.92,F=2571.80, F=369.50,F=67.73,F=2677.94,F=24.17,P<0.05), respectively. The differences of growth hormone, TSH, cortisol and ACTH, excepted insulin-like growth factor and free thyroxine, between part of pituitary stalk interruption group and control group were not significant. And pituitary-gonadal hormones level of part of pituitary stalk interruption group was significantly lower than that of control group (F=354.94,F=247.00, F=247.83,F=655.05,F=48.10,P<0.05). Besides, the differences of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone and prolactin levels between part of pituitary stalk interruption group and complete pituitary stalk interruption group were no significant.Conclusion: Enhanced MRI of pituitary can effectively diagnose pituitary stalk interruption syndrome and damage degree of pituitary target gland function.