TY - JOUR
T1 - The pituitary gland
T2 - Changes on MR images during the 1st year after delivery
AU - Miki, Yukio
AU - Kataoka, Milliam L.
AU - Shibata, Toshiya
AU - Haque, Tabassum L.
AU - Kanagaki, Mitsunori
AU - Shimono, Taro
AU - Okada, Tomohisa
AU - Hiraga, Akira
AU - Nishizawa, Sadahiko
AU - Ueda, Hiroyuki
AU - Rahman, Mahbubur
AU - Konishi, Junji
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - PURPOSE: To longitudinally and prospectively investigate changes in the volume and signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of the pituitary gland up to 1 year after delivery and evaluate whether termination of lactation has an effect on these parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All participants provided informed consent for participation in the study, which was approved by the institutional review board. Thirteen volunteers (mean age, 28 years; age range, 26-32 years) underwent MR imaging 2 and 4 weeks after delivery and then at intervals of 0.5-2.0 months until 1 year after delivery. Eight participants terminated lactation during the study period. Sagittal and coronal T1-weighted images were obtained. Signal intensities of the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary were calculated relative to that of the pons. The volume of the pituitary was also calculated. Two-tailed paired Student t tests and separate simple linear regression analyses were used to test for statistically significant differences. RESULTS: The mean pituitary volume was 544 mm3 at 2 weeks, 523 mm3 at 4 months, 512 mm 3 at 8 months, and 511 mm3 at 12 months after delivery, with significant differences between 2 weeks and 4 months (P = .002) and between 4 and 8 months (P = .003) after delivery. The mean ratio of the signal intensity of the anterior lobe of the pituitary to the signal intensity of the pons was 1.11 at 2 weeks, 1.07 at 4 months, 1.03 at 8 months, and 1.00 at 12 months after delivery, with significant differences between 2 weeks and 4 months (P = .004) and between 4 and 8 months (P = .0001 ) after delivery. Termination of lactation had no statistically significant effect on pituitary volume or the ratio of the signal intensity of the anterior or posterior lobe of the pituitary to the signal intensity of the pons. CONCLUSION: The volume of the pituitary gland decreases up to 8 months after delivery, and the T1-weighted signal intensity of the anterior lobe of the pituitary decreases; termination of lactation has no statistically significant effect on these parameters.
AB - PURPOSE: To longitudinally and prospectively investigate changes in the volume and signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of the pituitary gland up to 1 year after delivery and evaluate whether termination of lactation has an effect on these parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All participants provided informed consent for participation in the study, which was approved by the institutional review board. Thirteen volunteers (mean age, 28 years; age range, 26-32 years) underwent MR imaging 2 and 4 weeks after delivery and then at intervals of 0.5-2.0 months until 1 year after delivery. Eight participants terminated lactation during the study period. Sagittal and coronal T1-weighted images were obtained. Signal intensities of the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary were calculated relative to that of the pons. The volume of the pituitary was also calculated. Two-tailed paired Student t tests and separate simple linear regression analyses were used to test for statistically significant differences. RESULTS: The mean pituitary volume was 544 mm3 at 2 weeks, 523 mm3 at 4 months, 512 mm 3 at 8 months, and 511 mm3 at 12 months after delivery, with significant differences between 2 weeks and 4 months (P = .002) and between 4 and 8 months (P = .003) after delivery. The mean ratio of the signal intensity of the anterior lobe of the pituitary to the signal intensity of the pons was 1.11 at 2 weeks, 1.07 at 4 months, 1.03 at 8 months, and 1.00 at 12 months after delivery, with significant differences between 2 weeks and 4 months (P = .004) and between 4 and 8 months (P = .0001 ) after delivery. Termination of lactation had no statistically significant effect on pituitary volume or the ratio of the signal intensity of the anterior or posterior lobe of the pituitary to the signal intensity of the pons. CONCLUSION: The volume of the pituitary gland decreases up to 8 months after delivery, and the T1-weighted signal intensity of the anterior lobe of the pituitary decreases; termination of lactation has no statistically significant effect on these parameters.
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U2 - 10.1148/radiol.2353040243
DO - 10.1148/radiol.2353040243
M3 - Article
C2 - 15833983
AN - SCOPUS:21044436108
SN - 0033-8419
VL - 235
SP - 999
EP - 1004
JO - Radiology
JF - Radiology
IS - 3
ER -