Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Assessment of the accuracy of computed tomography for measurement of normal equine pituitary glands.
Abstract: To describe the anatomic features of the pituitary gland region in horses via computed tomography (CT) and determine the accuracy of CT for estimating normal equine pituitary gland dimensions. Methods: 25 adult horses with no clinical signs of pituitary disease. Methods: Transverse CT images and gross transverse tissue sections were compared in 2 horses. Contrast-enhanced CT of the pituitary gland region was performed postmortem in 23 horses with 4 slice thickness and interval settings (10-mm contiguous or overlapping slices and 4-mm contiguous or overlapping slices). Gross and CT estimates of pituitary gland dimensions were compared via ANOVA. Accuracy of CT estimates was calculated with gross pituitary gland measurements as the known value. Results: Pituitary glands were located between the temporomandibular joints and had contrast enhancement. Mean gross dimensions were length, 2.11 cm; width, 2.16 cm; height, 0.98 cm; and volume, 2.66 cm3. Gross measurements and CT estimates of pituitary gland length from 10-mm contiguous and overlapping slices did not differ. Gross measurements and CT estimates of pituitary gland width from 4-mm contiguous and overlapping slices did not differ. Estimates of height and volume from all CT techniques differed from gross measurements. Accuracies for CT estimates were length, 88 to 99%; width, 81 to 92%; height, 58 to 71%; and volume, 43 to 55%. Conclusions: Accuracy of estimates of pituitary gland dimension in horses varied with CT scanning technique; via CT estimates of length and width of glands were more accurate than estimates of height or volume.
Publication Date: 2003-11-19 PubMed ID: 14620775DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1387Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Adult Horses
- Anatomy
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Computed Tomography
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Imaging Techniques
- Physiology
- Pituitary
- Post Mortem
- Radiology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper studies the accuracy of Computed Tomography (CT) scans in measuring the dimensions of a normal pituitary gland in horses. The study found that the accuracy varied with the CT scanning technique used, with length and width dimensions being more accurately estimated than height or volume.
Methods
The study used a sample of 25 adult horses that did not show clinical signs of pituitary disease. The following methods were employed:
- Comparison of transverse CT images and gross transverse tissue sections in 2 horses.
- Contrast-enhanced CT scans of the pituitary gland region were conducted postmortem in 23 horses. Different settings were used for slice thickness and intervals (10-mm contiguous or overlapping slices and 4-mm contiguous or overlapping slices).
The CT estimates of pituitary gland dimensions were compared with gross measurements using ANOVA. The accuracy of the CT estimates was determined using the gross measurements as known values.
Results
The study’s results were as follows:
- The pituitary glands were located between the temporomandibular joints and showed contrast enhancement.
- The mean gross measurements were length 2.11 cm, width 2.16 cm, height 0.98 cm, and volume 2.66 cm3.
- The gross measurements and CT estimates of pituitary gland length from 10-mm contiguous and overlapping slices showed no significant difference.
- Similarly, gross measurements and CT estimates of pituitary gland width from 4-mm contiguous and overlapping slices did not show significant differences.
- However, CT estimates of height and volume from all techniques showed differences compared to gross measurements.
- Accuracy levels for CT estimates were 88 to 99% for length, 81 to 92% for width, 58 to 71% for height, and 43 to 55% for volume.
Conclusion
The research concluded that accuracy of CT estimates of pituitary gland dimensions in horses varies with the CT scanning technique used. The estimates for length and width of the glands were more accurate than those for height or volume.
Cite This Article
APA
McKlveen TL, Jones JC, Sponenberg DP, Scarratt K, Ward DL, Aardema CH.
(2003).
Assessment of the accuracy of computed tomography for measurement of normal equine pituitary glands.
Am J Vet Res, 64(11), 1387-1394.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1387 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0442, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Contrast Media
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Pituitary Gland / anatomy & histology
- Pituitary Gland / diagnostic imaging
- Reference Values
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Frey K, Perlini M, Reed R. Time Attenuation Curves for Equine Intravenous Contrast Enhanced Skull CT Using the Medial Saphenous and Cephalic Veins. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2026 Jan;67(1):e70115.
- Riahi Z, Naeini AT, Zare R. Evaluation of maturation-related changes in maxillary sinus diameter and cheek teeth positioning relative to the maxillary sinus in the Dareshuri horse. J Equine Sci 2025;36(3):81-91.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
