2007-07-24 09:52:03 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
pituitary tumors are usually very small (micro adenoma (sp)). a ct usually isn't the best for picking those up. mri done with and without contrast (dye) would do a much better job at showing if someone had a pituitary tumor, and sometimes they are so small that they don't even show up on an mri.
i hope this helps!
2007-07-24 12:48:22 · answer #1 · answered by hot_singing_babe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normally a doctor will order a CT scan first and it would detect any mass in the brain. If a mass is detected then it is followed by an MRI for a better picture to try to pin down what the mass is (tumor, cyst, aneurysm, etc.)
The reason the CT scan is done first is because they are less expensive than an MRI, and health insurance companies will not approve payment of an MRI without having a CT scan first.
2007-07-26 15:03:02 · answer #2 · answered by Schwinn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a CT scan can show pituitary tumors, but MRI is better.
2007-07-24 17:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by nostalgogram 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Believe your referring to the Pituitary Gland, and yes, I believe it will show up on a routine CT.
2007-07-24 16:58:18 · answer #4 · answered by George R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an MRI would be a better choice.
CT can show some tumors, but not all, and ordinarily require contrast injections to show any at all.
2007-07-24 17:01:07 · answer #5 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋