Magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamopituitary area in the diagnosis of neurogenic diabetes insipidus

Abstract

Fifty two patients (23 males and 29 females) with neurogenic diabetes insipidus (DI) were examined to define the role and specific features of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of hypothalamopituitary abnormalities in this disease retrospectively after establishing the diagnosis. The group understudy included patients who had symptoms of only DI (they had no signs of chiasm or hypopituitarism). The fol­lowing abnormalities were detected: no hyperintensive signal of the neurohypophysis body on T1-weighed images in 42.3%) of patients, bulky chiasmocellar masses in 13.6%), the empty ephippium in 15.3%), its structural abnormalities in 1.9%). Ab­normal MRI scans were absent in 26.9% of patients with neu­rogenic DI. Since DI may be the first and only symptom of hy­pothalamopituitary tumor lesion, a sensitive topical technicjue, such as MRI, should be applied. It was found that brain MRI revealed no hyperintensive signal from the neurohypophysis body on T1-weighed images in 61%) of the patients with idi­opathic DI, which may be a pathognomonic sign of idiopathic DI.