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Figure 1. Pituitary microadenoma. (A) Post gadolinium T1-weighted images show a low signal intensity region in the left side of the pituitary gland, with an associated focal contour deformity. (B) Pre gadolinium T1-weighted images do not clearly demonstrate a pituitary lesion. (C) On coronal T2-weighted images there is an area of low signal within the left side of the gland suggestive of a small adenoma more clearly demonstrated after gadolinium administration.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Figure 2. Pituitary macroadenoma. (A) Coronal T1-weighted images show a large lesion isointense to grey matter in the sella, deforming the sella, impinging on the optic chiasm. (B) T2-weighed images show the mass to be slightly hyperintense. (C) The mass enhances homogenously after contrast administration.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Figure 3. Pituitary apoplexy. (A) Sagittal and (B) coronal pre contrast T1-weighted images show a large mass lesion in the sella turcica with heterogrnous high signal intensity on T1-weighted images as well as on (C) coronal T2-weighted images. The presence of a large sellar mass lesion deforming the sella. This is consistent with hemorrhage within a macroadenoma.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Figure 4. Meningioma. Axial pre (A) and (B) post contrast axial T1-weighted images and (C) coronal post T1-weighted images show a mass lesion arising in the left cavernous sinus , enveloping and narrowing the left internal carotid artery. The lesion invades the sella turcica.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Figure 5. Craniopharyngioma. (A) Axial T2 weighted images show a mixed solid and cystic suprasellar mass, lesion, which shows enhancement on axial (B) and (C) sagittal T1-weighted images. (D) Noncontrast head computed tomography shows areas of calcification within the mass lesion. (Images Courtesy of Katie Vo, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, MO, USA).
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Figure 6. Ectopic posterior pituitary bright spot (A) coronal precontrast T1 and (B) sagittal precontrast T1-weighted images show an ectopic pituitary bright spot located in the median eminence of the hypothalamus.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
Anatomy & embryology
The sella turcica is an invagination in the sphenoid bone, within which sits the pituitary gland [1,2]. The pituitary gland has classically been thought to originate from the interaction of Rathke's pouch (a dorsal evagination from the fetal buccal cavity or...