What is the role of pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning in hypopituitarism?
Any patient with unexplained hypopituitarism or hyperprolactinemia, or with symptoms of tumor mass effect should undergo pituitary MRI scanning with and without contrast. Patients with suspected functional hypopituitarism (i.e., after use/abuse of anabolic–androgenic steroids or glucocorticoids) do not usually need pituitary imaging. Men with unexplained and isolated central hypogonadism with confirmed serum testosterone levels < 150 ng/mL should be imaged.
