The system of MR imaging criteria for the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma with cavernous sinus invasion and the analysis of correlated factors

Objective:To define magnetic resonance (MR) imaging criteria for the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma with cavernous sinus invasion.Methods:The coronary MR images of sellar region obtained in 201 patients with pituitary adenoma and dealt with computer were reviewed retrospectively. The standard-of-reference criteria for invasion were the surgical findings. The tumor's involvement in cavernous sinus was analyzed systematically with computer in several groups. Based on them,the valuable factors for diagnosing the invasion of cavernous sinus was acquired and the efficacy of MR images was surged to approach with discriminant analysis.Results:If the encasement of the interior carotid artery was not less than 70%, it could ensure the invasion of cavernous sinus accurately. If the encasement was less than 20%, the tumor was not depictured in the medial venous compartment, or the tumor was not crossed the medial intercarotid line, we should give up the diagnosis of cavernous sinus invasion. Then, based on the discriminant analysis, we set up a discriminant metric numerical table for the diagnosis of cavernous sinus invasion.Conclusion:With systematically analysis of the coronary MR images, the image criteria for the invasion of cavernous sinus by pituitary adenoma was set up.