Pituitary stalk
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Jones J, Knipe H, et al. Pituitary stalk. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 25 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1890
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rID:
1890
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures
Revisions:
12 times, by
7 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Infundibulum (pituitary)
- Infundibular stalk
The pituitary stalk, also known as the infundibulum or infundibular stalk, is largely outside the blood brain barrier like the rest of the pituitary and therefore normally enhances following the administration of gadolinium. It gradually tapers inferiorly, and superiorly is spread by the infundibular recess of the third ventricle.
There have been some studies looking at the range of normal sizes of the pituitary stalk. One study 2 had a normal range of:
- 3.25 mm +/- 0.56 (SD) at the level of the optic chiasm
- 1.91 mm +/- 0.40 (SD) as the stalk enters the pituitary gland proper
in other words, 95% of patients should have a stalk that measures no more than:
- 4.4 mm at the level of the optic chiasm, and
- 2.7 mm just above the gland
Related pathology
- differential diagnosis of pituitary stalk abnormal enhancement
References
- 1. Laurie A. Loevner. Brain Imaging. (2009) ISBN: 9780323031790 - Google Books
- 2. Simmons G, Suchnicki J, Rak K, Damiano T. MR Imaging of the Pituitary Stalk: Size, Shape, and Enhancement Pattern. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1992;159(2):375-7. doi:10.2214/ajr.159.2.1632360 - Pubmed
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Articles:
- Lymphocytic hypophysitis
- Pituitary fossa
- Pituicytoma
- Infundibulum (disambiguation)
- Third ventricle
- Hypothalamus
- Superior hypophyseal artery
- Langerhans cell histiocytosis (CNS manifestations)
- Neurosarcoidosis
- Pituitary stalk abnormal enhancement (differential)
- Tuber cinereum
- Erdheim-Chester disease
- Supraopticohypophyseal tract
- Circle of Willis
- Posterior pituitary bright spot
- Pituitary gland
- Posterior pituitary
- Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome
- Optic chiasm
- Infundibular recess
Cases:
- Ectopic posterior pituitary
- Pituitary stalk disruption syndrome
- Tuberculum sellae meningioma
- Pituitary xanthogranuloma
- Hypothalamitis regression after steroid administration
- Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome
- Rathke's cleft cyst in childhood
- Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome
- Meningioma-tuberculum sellae
- Diabetes insipidus (MRI)
Related articles: Anatomy: Brain
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brain
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cerebrum
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pituitary gland
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cerebral hemisphere (telencephalon)
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brainstem
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