Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome MRI

Brain MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome associated hypopituitarism and hypogonadism. Findings on MRI suggestive of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome include hypopituitarism and hypogonadism. MRI is the imaging procedure of choice in the diagnosis of hypopituitarism. It is preferred over the CT scan as optic chiasm, pituitary stalk, and cavernous sinuses can be seen in MRI. An MRI lesion needs to be related to clinical and lab findings. The absence of an MRI lesion mostly indicates a non-organic etiology. Autoantibodies against pituitary gland results in hemorrhage into the pituitary gland which presents as a high-intensity signal on both T1- and T2-weighted images.

Brain MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome associated hypopituitarism and hypogonadism. Findings on MRI suggestive of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome include hypopituitarism and hypogonadism. MRI in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome may present with the following features:^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

• MRI scan with intravenous gadolinium is the imaging procedure of choice in diagnosis of hypopituitarism . It is preferred over the CT scan as optic chiasm, pituitary stalk, and cavernous sinuses can be seen in MRI.

• MRI scan shows the following findings in cases of hypopituitarism:
  • Decreased size of the pituitary gland.
  • Empty sella may be noticed in some cases.
  • Pituitary stalk may be visible, thin, or totally absent.
  • Posterior lobe of the pituitary may be absent.
  • Mass may appear in the pituitary.
  • Ectopic posterior lobe of the pituitary gland may be observed in cases of pituitary dwarfism.
  • Infiltrative disorders such a sarcoidosis and histiocytosis may present as thickening of infundibulum (hollow stalk that connects the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary gland)
  • In cranial DI, T1 weighted MRI shows absence of high intensity bright spot that is normally seen in posterior pituitary.

• MRI is the single best imaging modality in the evaluation of sellar masses as certain findings are suggestive of some specific sellar masses and help to differentiate them.
• If MRI is not possible due to any reason, high-resolution CT scan with contrast administration, in coronal plane, may be used as an alternative.
• An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may show a three-dimensional image of pituitary gland, hypothalamus, and the organs near them.
• MRI is used to detect the underlying cause of like the pituitary adenoma that can be seen as a mass with hormonal hypersecretion.
• There is a positive correlation between MRI findings and the number of pituitary hormonal deficiencies.
• An MRI lesion needs to be related to clinical and lab findings. The absence of an MRI lesion mostly indicates a non-organic etiology.

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