Learning objectives
The pituitary gland or hypophysis is a pea-sized gland that is located deep within the sella turcica, in the pituitary fossa, at the base of the skull, and deep within the pit of the sphenoid bone [1, 2]. The pituitary gland is referred to as the master gland of the human endocrine system that secretes hormones into the bloodstream and controls virtually all physiological processes, such as metabolism, reproduction, childbirth, growth control, body temperature, and body pressure [3].
Alteration in the shape and size of...
Background
Participants
The pituitary glands of 100 healthy Nepalese people (49 male and 51 female, age range 7 to 86 years) were collected during the period of approximately four months from June to September 2019 at the Department of Radio-diagnosis and Medical Imaging, Universal College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Ranigaon, Bhairahawa, Nepal. Brain MRI scans that were reported as normal findings by a radiologist were included in this study. Brain MRIs were excluded from this study if the participants were non-Nepalese citizens and were described as...
Findings and procedure details
The mean height, depth, width, and volume of the pituitary gland were 5.83±0.77 mm, 9.74±1.22 mm, and 12.98±1.50 mm and 383.59±78.72 mm3, respectively. According to gender, there was a statistically significant difference in height, U=954.00, p=0.042, and volume, t(98)=2.05, p=0.042. whereas there were no statistically significant differences in depth, U=1257.50, p=0.956, and width, t(98)=1.93, p=0.056 as shown in Table 1.
According to age group, there were no statistically significant differences in depth, H(6)=2.181, p=0.902 and volume, F(6,93)=2.008, p=0.072. However, there was a statistically significant difference...
Conclusion
The difference in pituitary height and volume among two genders may be due to change in endocrine function between them. The late age increase in pituitary height and width was mainly attributed to the increment of gonadotropic hormones due to loss of feedback mechanism of gonadal steroids. This study would facilitate assessment and diagnosis in patients with neuroendocrine abnormalities. The study measured the normal variation of pituitary measurements among Nepalese subjects, that could be used as reference values.
Personal information and conflict of interest
U. Poudel:
Nothing to disclose
S. Maharjan:
Nothing to disclose
S. Mukhi:
Nothing to disclose
R. Chaudhary:
Nothing to disclose
S. C. Yadav:
Nothing to disclose
References
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Hiller-Sturmhöfel S, Bartke A (1998) The endocrine system - An overview. Alcohol Res Heal 22(3):153–64
Emerald M (2016) Pituitary Gland: Pituitary Hormones. Encycl Food Heal 392–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384947-2.00548-1
Al-Brahim NYY, Asa SL (2006) My approach to pathology of the pituitary gland. J Clin Pathol 59(12):1245–1253. https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2005.031187...