Enhanced high-resolution sagittal MRI of normal pineal glands.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine the appearance and enhancement pattern of human pineal glands on MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-resolution sagittal MR images (3 mm section thickness with an 18 cm field of view) obtained in 60 patients were retrospectively analyzed to determine the size and enhancement patterns of normal pineal glands following the intravenous injection of contrast medium.

RESULTS: Pineal glands were either solid (40%) or cystic (60%) with various enhancement patterns: diffuse (15%) and partially enhanced (25%) in solid and ring-like (20%) and peripherally partial (40%) in cystic. Their diameter exceeded 10 mm but was < 20 mm in five cases and resembled cystic pineal neoplasms. Two such cases were found to be histologically normal.

CONCLUSION: Information on the appearance and enhancement patterns of normal pineal glands on MR images can improve the accuracy of diagnosing space-occupying lesions in the pineal region and perhaps help to prevent unnecessary surgery.