Pituitary region mass with intrinsic high T1 signal

Changed by Henry Knipe, 12 Jan 2024
Disclosures - updated 16 Jan 2023:
  • Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
  • Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Pituitary region masses with intrinsic high T1 signal, also referred to as suprasellar hotspots, are relatively frequently encountered, and the presence of high T1 signal narrows the differential somewhat.

Differential diagnosis

The differential can be divided by the substance causing the T1 hyperintensity 2:

  • -<p><strong>Pituitary region masses with intrinsic high T1 signal</strong>, also referred to as <strong>suprasellar hotspots</strong>, are relatively frequently encountered, and the presence of high T1 signal narrows the differential somewhat. </p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>The differential can be divided by the substance causing the T1 hyperintensity <sup>2</sup>:</p><ul>
  • -<li>blood<ul>
  • -<li>hemorrhagic <a href="/articles/pituitary-macroadenoma-1">pituitary macroadenoma</a> (with or without clinical <a href="/articles/pituitary-apoplexy">pituitary apoplexy</a>) (most common <sup>3</sup>)</li>
  • -<li>thrombosed <a href="/articles/saccular-cerebral-aneurysm">aneurysm</a>
  • -</li>
  • +<p><strong>Pituitary region masses with intrinsic high T1 signal</strong>, also referred to as <strong>suprasellar hotspots</strong>, are relatively frequently encountered, and the presence of high T1 signal narrows the differential somewhat.&nbsp;</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>The differential can be divided by the substance causing the T1 hyperintensity <sup>2</sup>:</p><ul>
  • +<li>
  • +<p>blood</p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p>haemorrhagic <a href="/articles/pituitary-macroadenoma-1">pituitary macroadenoma</a>&nbsp;(with or without clinical <a href="/articles/pituitary-apoplexy">pituitary apoplexy</a>) (most common <sup>3</sup>)</p></li>
  • +<li><p>thrombosed <a href="/articles/saccular-cerebral-aneurysm">aneurysm</a></p></li>
  • -<li>fat<ul>
  • -<li>postoperative fat packing</li>
  • -<a href="/articles/intracranial-teratoma">teratoma</a> / <a href="/articles/intracranial-dermoid-cyst-1">dermoid cyst</a>
  • -</li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/intracranial-lipoma">lipoma</a></li>
  • +<p>fat</p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p>postoperative fat packing</p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/intracranial-teratoma">teratoma</a> / <a href="/articles/intracranial-dermoid-cyst-1">dermoid cyst</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/intracranial-lipoma">lipoma</a></p></li>
  • -<li>protein<ul>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/craniopharyngioma-historical">craniopharyngioma</a></li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/rathke-cleft-cyst-2">Rathke's cleft cyst</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Paranasal sinus mucocele" href="/articles/paranasal-sinus-mucocele-1">paranasal sinus mucocele</a></li>
  • +<li>
  • +<p>protein</p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/craniopharyngioma-historical">craniopharyngioma</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/rathke-cleft-cyst-2">Rathke's cleft cyst</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/paranasal-sinus-mucocele-1" title="Paranasal sinus mucocele">paranasal sinus mucocele</a></p></li>
  • -<li>calcification<ul>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/chordoma">chordoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/chondrosarcoma-of-the-skull-base">chondrosarcoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/enchondroma">chondroma</a></li>
  • +<li>
  • +<p>calcification</p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/chordoma">chordoma</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/chondrosarcoma-of-the-skull-base">chondrosarcoma</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/enchondroma">chondroma</a></p></li>
  • -<li>normal variant<ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/posterior-pituitary-bright-spot">posterior pituitary bright spot</a><ul>
  • -<li>normal posterior pituitary</li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/ectopic-posterior-pituitary">ectopic posterior pituitary</a></li>
  • +<p>normal variant</p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li>
  • +<p><a href="/articles/posterior-pituitary-bright-spot">posterior pituitary bright spot</a></p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p>normal posterior pituitary</p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/ectopic-posterior-pituitary">ectopic posterior pituitary</a></p></li>
  • -<li>normal anterior pituitary <sup>1</sup><ul>
  • -<li>pregnancy</li>
  • -<li>first 3 months of life</li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/total-parenteral-nutrition">total parenteral nutrition (TPN)</a></li>
  • +<li>
  • +<p>normal anterior pituitary <sup>1</sup></p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p>pregnancy</p></li>
  • +<li><p>first 3 months of life</p></li>
  • +<li><p>total parenteral nutrition (TPN)</p></li>

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