Neuroimaging of hypophysitis: etiologies and imaging mimics

AbstractHypophysitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the pituitary gland. Hypophysitis can be classified into multiple types depending on the mechanisms (primary or secondary), histology (lymphocytic, granulomatous, xanthomatous, plasmacytic/IgG4 related, necrotizing, or mixed), and anatomy (adenohypophysitis, infundibulo-neurohypophysitis, or panhypophysitis). An appropriate diagnosis is vital for managing these potentially life-threatening conditions. However, physiological morphological alterations, remnants, and  neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions may masquerade as hypophysitis, both clinically and radiologically. Neuroimaging, as well as imaging findings of other sites of the body, plays a pivotal role in diagnosis. In this article, we will review the types of hypophysitis and summarize clinical and im aging features of both hypophysitis and its mimickers.
Source: Japanese Journal of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research