Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary stalk has revealed certain abnormalities with significant clinical relevance. In order to correctly appreciate them, one must be aware of the embryology and anatomy of the pituitary-hypothalamic axis and the criteria that define a normal MRI. Pituitary stalk thickening is frequently related to Diabetes Insipidus and this finding requires further evaluation, especially in children and adolescents. A truncated, thin or absent stalk can be associated with growth hormone deficiency and contribute to the prediction of the severity and the pattern of the hypopituitarism. At last, mutations of different transcription factors controlling pituitary development may be associated with characteristic pituitary-hypothalamic MRI abnormalities, underscoring its utility in the assessment of congenital hypopituitarism.
Magnetic resonance imaging; Pituitary stalk; Thickening; Diabetes insipidus, Growth; Molecular genetics
