What is a Suprasellar mass?
Suprasellar masses are neoplastic, vascular, congenital, or infectious/inflammatory in origin. Suprasellar masses present with a variety of neurologic or endocrine dysfunctions depending on their site of origin and mass effect on adjacent structures.
Where is a Suprasellar mass?
Suprasellar meningiomas tend to affect middle-aged men and women, account for about 10 percent of all meningiomas, and occur near the pituitary gland and optic nerves at the skull base. These slow-growing tumors can cause severe visual impairment in one or both eyes if they press directly on the optic nerves.
Which MRI is best for pituitary tumor?
Dynamic contrast MRI has been proven to be the best imaging tool in the evaluation of pituitary adenomas.
What is Sella and Parasellar?
The sellar region includes the sella turcica and the pituitary gland, together with the ventral adenohypophysis and dorsal neurohypophysis. The parasellar region encompasses the cavernous sinuses, suprasellar cistern, hypothalamus, and ventral inferior third ventricle.
What is considered a large pituitary tumor?
Large pituitary tumors — those measuring about 1 centimeter (slightly less than a half-inch) or larger — are known as macroadenomas. Smaller tumors are called microadenomas. Because of the size of macroadenomas, they can put pressure on the normal pituitary gland and nearby structures.
Are pituitary tumors malignant?
Almost all pituitary tumors are benign (not cancer) glandular tumors called pituitary adenomas. These tumors are called benign because they don’t spread to other parts of the body, like cancers can.
Can you see a pituitary tumor on MRI without contrast?
Contrast MRI is the only way to adequately evaluate the pituitary gland. For all pituitary lesions, MRI offers multiplanar capabilities and soft tissue contrast essential in detecting these lesions. The larger sella tumors pose no imaging problem.
What is MRI pituitary protocol?
MRI protocol for pituitary gland is a group of MRI sequences put together to improve sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of lesions of the pituitary gland (e.g. pituitary adenoma) and other sellar and suprasellar abnormalities (check the article on pituitary region masses for some examples).
What is suprasellar meningioma?
Suprasellar meningioma arises from the base of the skull near the pituitary gland and the optic nerve. Tumors in this area can cause visual problems and dysfunction of the pituitary gland.
Which imaging is used to evaluate suprasellar masses?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the study of choice for evaluating suprasellar masses, although computed tomography (CT) may provide complementary information. Suprasellar masses present with a variety of neurologic or endocrine dysfunctions depending on their site of origin and mass effect on adjacent structures.
What is a suprasellar mass?
Suprasellar masses are neoplastic, vascular, congenital, or infectious/inflammatory in origin. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the study of choice for evaluating suprasellar masses, although computed tomography (CT) may provide complementary information. Suprasellar masses present with a variety …
What are the imaging features of juxtasellar masses?
Imaging features and distinguishing characteristics of juxtasellar masses are described. A large number of entities can present as a suprasellar or parasellar mass. These include benign and malignant tumors as well as inflammatory and other lesions that can mimic a neoplasm.