Abstract
To compare 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of pituitary macroadenomas (PMA) with standard MRI and intraoperative findings regarding tumor detection, localization, size, and extension. Patients with suspected pituitary adenoma underwent pre-operative 1.5 T or 3 T and 7 T MRI; 14 patients with a PMA were included. A qualitative (lesion detection, location, cavernous sinus infiltration) and quantitative (lesion size, depth of cavernous sinus infiltration) analysis of 1.5 T, 3 T and 7 T MRI was performed and compared with intraoperative findings. Both 1.5/3 T and 7 T MRI enabled the detection of all PMAs; lesion size determination was equal. 7 T MRI enables more precise assessments of cavernous sinus infiltration of PMA (ncorrect 7T = 78.6%, ncorrect 1.5/3T = 64.3%). Ultra-high-field MRI is a reliable imaging modality for evaluation of PMAs providing exact information on lesion location and size. 7 T MRI yielded more accurate information on cavernous sinus infiltration with better agreement with intraoperative findings than standard MRI.
Subject
Paleontology,Space and Planetary Science,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics