MRI Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Lymphocytic Hypophysitis

Purpose To describe the MR findings in patients with lymphocytic hypophysitis(LyH),and to discuss MR diagnostic value and limit in this disease entity and its differential diagnosis.Materials and Methods 32 pathologically and clinical proven cases of LyH were recruited in this study.The MR images and clinical manifestations were analyzed retrospectively.Results MR findings of the 32 patients with LyH included disappearance of high signal of neurohypophysis on T1WI in 31 cases,stalk thickening in 22 cases;enlargement of pituitary gland and stalk in 9 cases,involvement of the cavernous sinus and adjacent dura mater were found in 4 patients;slight enlargement of pituitary gland in 1 case.Homogeneous enhancement was found in 4 cases,while heterogeneous enhancement was in 28 cases.Conclusion The diagnosis of LyH should be suggested when the pituitary stalk thickening with disappearance of high signal of neurohypophysis on T1WI,with/without enlarged pituitary gland are associated with central diabetes insipidus,and with dysfunction of adenohypophysis.