The evaluation of pituitary gland volume using threedimensional MRI in prepubertal children with normal endocrine function

PURPOSE: To access the reference range of normal pituitary volume in prepubertal children with the measurement of normal endocrine function of the pituitary gland volume in boys and girls under 12 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study under 12 years of age children which were coming between September 2012-2014 to our Radiology unit with normal endocrine function performed cranial MRI; were examined retrospectively. The minimum, maximum -average height and volume values of pitutary gland for each gender and age were found. The pituitary gland volume value for each age and gender was created 5-10-25-50-75-90-95 reference value containing percentiles. FINDINGS: In the prepubertal period, the pituitary gland volume and height values for both sexes were found to increase significantly with age. Although the pituitary volume in male gender greater than female gender with the neonatal period; it became opposite with the sixth age. The pituitary gland height is gradually growth with age; it was greater in male gender in neonatal period than became greater in female gender with the fourth age. CONCLUSION: The normal endocrine function prepubertal children's pituitary gland volume and height was determined separately for each age group with 3D MRI and was created the normal reference range