Dimensions of the Pituitary Gland in 2- to 18-Year-Old Iranians: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment

Abstract

Context: Population-specific data on pituitary gland dimensions in children are limited. This study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess pituitary gland dimensions in a clinical sample of Iranian children aged 2 - 18 years who resided in Zahedan, Iran. Evidence Acquisition: This cross-sectional study was conducted using brain MRI scans of 125 Iranian individuals aged 2 to 18 years living in Zahedan, Iran, in 2024. Brain MRI images were selected from the archives of a radiology clinic using convenience sampling. Pituitary height, volume, and diameter were measured on midsagittal and coronal views using PACS software. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: The mean pituitary height was 4.35 ± 1.32 mm, and the mean pituitary volume was 201.5 ± 117.39 mm3. The mean pituitary volume was 151.2 ± 62.19 mm3 in 2- to 10-year-olds and 342.93 ± 120.94 mm3 in 10- to 18-year-olds. The mean pituitary volume was 195.4 ± 98.1 mm3 in boys and 209.9 ± 139.9 mm3 in girls. The mean pituitary height was 3.78 ± 0.81 mm in 2- to 10-year-olds and 5.94 ± 1.19 mm in 10- to 18-year-olds. The mean pituitary height was 4.28 ± 1.25 mm in boys and 4.45 ± 1.4 mm in girls. The mean anteroposterior pituitary diameter was 6.66 ± 1.13 mm in 2- to 10-year-olds and 8.64 ± 1.53 mm in 10- to 18-year-olds. Mean pituitary volume, height, and diameter increased with age. The mean anteroposterior pituitary diameter was 7.17 ± 1.37 mm in boys and 7.19 ± 1.71 mm in girls. Conclusions: The present results provide descriptive data on pituitary dimensions in a clinical sample of Iranian children and may serve as preliminary data for future studies examining differences in pituitary gland size and volume across populations and age groups.