Comparison of the volume and measurements of the pituitary gland by using magnetic resonance imaging between children with short stature and children who have normal growth and development

PURPOSE: Hypothalamo-hypophyseal disorders are common cause of the short stature in children. Magnetic resonance imaging has an important role to evaluate the mass, infectious and inflammatory disease, hypoplasia and aplasia of the hypophysis gland. Hypoplasia and aplasia should be considered carefully in children with short stature symptoms. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the measurements and volume of the adenohypophysis in children with short stature and healthy population. MATERIAL and METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively in children with short stature between January 2008 and May 2018. Children who underwent hypophysis magnetic resonance imaging were included in our study. The etiology of short stature were grouped as isolated growth deficiency, multiple hormone deficiencies, idiopathic, and syndromic. The height, transverse diameter, and anteroposterior diameter and volume of adenohypophysis were calculated. All of the data were compared with sex and age-matched control group. RESULTS: 96 patients (47 boys and 49 girls) and 109 (59 boys and 50 girls) normal children were included. All of the diameters and volume analysis were lower in patient group than in the control group, significantly (p <0,001). The most significant measurement was found as volumetric analysis of adenohypophysis to determine the hypoplasia of adenohypophysis. The most significant parameters to determine the hypoplasia was the height and the anteroposterior diameter in prepubertal patients, following the volumetric analysis; while it was the anteroposterior diameter in pubertal patients. CONCLUSION: The diameters and volume of adenohypophysis were found lower in children with short stature. Adenohypophysis volume was the most valuable parameter in the diagnosis of pathological short stature. Further analysis should be done to reach more accurate results.