Normal pituitary gland: 1. Macroscopic anatomy-CT correlation.

To improve the radiologic recognition of pituitary microadenomas that have subtle or no mass effect, the appearance of the normal pituitary gland on computed tomographic (CT) images was studied. Thirteen autopsy specimens of the pituitary gland and sella turcica were examined by coronal CT and histologically sectioned in similar coronal planes. The CT and histologic findings were correlated, then compared with the coronal CT images of 30 normal pituitary glands in vivo, most of which were contrast-enhanced. The normal pituitary gland had a nonhomogeneous CT appearance with a variety of frequently predictable patterns. This heterogeneity was in part the result of gross anatomic structural interrelations between the anterior lobe, para intermedia, and posterior lobe.