PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Dina, T S
AU  - Feaster, S H
AU  - Laws, E R
AU  - Davis, D O
TI  - MR of the pituitary gland postsurgery: serial MR studies following transsphenoidal resection.
DP  - 1993 May 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 763--769
VI  - 14
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/14/3/763.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/14/3/763.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1993 May 01; 14
AB  - PURPOSE To determine the MR appearance of the pituitary gland in the early and late postoperative periods in order to distinguish operative complications more effectively and to establish a postoperative baseline.METHODS Ten patients were prospectively studied with MR following transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumor. Early postoperative studies were obtained at 2 to 8 days following surgery, late studies at 4 to 9 months in all patients and also at 12 to 16 months in five. Major observations were height of the pituitary mass and appearance of the surgical packing.RESULTS Within 8 days following surgery, the height of the pituitary mass was unchanged in two cases, increased in three, and only minimally decreased in five. All decreased in height (average 54%) by 4 to 9 months. Gelfoam packing completely (five) or nearly completely (three) resorbed leaving a normal-size, although deformed, pituitary gland. Fat-packed resection defects persisted (two).CONCLUSIONS In the early postoperative period, the appearance of the pituitary gland is similar in size to its preoperative appearance. Subsequent involution with packing resorption yields a smaller, deformed pituitary gland.