Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Fig 1.
The method of measurement of the pituitary stalk and infundibular recess. A, Schematic illustration of the pituitary stalk in the midsagittal plane demonstrates the depth of the infundibular recess (D) and the length of the pituitary stalk (L). The 2 lines indicate the levels at which the diameters of the pituitary stalk were measured (PI = the pituitary insertion of the pituitary stalk, OC = the level of the optic chiasm). B, Median sagittal MPRAGE image shows the depth of the infundibular recess (D) and the length of the pituitary stalk (L).
- Fig 2.
T2-weighted oblique-axial images of the pituitary stalk of a 34-year-old healthy woman. Consecutive images with 2-mm intervals are presented from superior (A) to inferior (E), along with a reference line of each imaged level on the midsagittal MPRAGE image. The infundibular recess (arrows) ends at the midstalk level. The parenchyma of the pituitary stalk at its insertion on the pituitary gland shows central hyperintensity with a peripheral rim of isointensity (arrowhead) compared with the cerebral white matter.
- Fig 3.
T2-weighted oblique-axial image of the pituitary stalk of a 34-year-old healthy man. The pituitary stalk shows homogeneous isointensity with the cerebral white matter at its insertion on the pituitary gland.
- Fig 4.
Schematic sagittal illustration of the pituitary stalk and gland demonstrating its components. The adenohypophysis is shaded in gray. The line indicates the level of the pituitary insertion at which the signal intensity of the pituitary stalk was assessed.
Tables
Measurements of the normal pituitary stalk
Mean ± SD Range Diameter at the pituitary insertion (mm) Anteroposterior 2.32 ± 0.39 1.65–3.17 Transverse 2.16 ± 0.37 1.56–3.04 Diameter at the level of optic chiasm (mm) Anteroposterior 3.25 ± 0.43 2.25–4.08 Transverse 3.35 ± 0.44 2.39–4.21 Length of the stalk (mm) 5.91 ± 1.24 3.26–8.66 Depth of the infundibular recess (mm) 4.69 ± 0.87 3.28–6.52 Ratio of the length of the stalk to the depth of the infundibular recess 1.30 ± 0.39 0.70–2.19
