The use of intravenous contrast in postoperative mr imaging of pituitary macroadenomas

In this study we reviewed 23 postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations of patients with pituitary macroadenomas to determine if intravenous contrast is of value in this setting. The addition of contrast enhanced images to noncontrast T1-weighted images changed the radiologist’s assessment in 4/5 early postoperative examinations and in 0/18 late postoperative examinations. Intravenous contrast is of value in distinguishing residual tumor from packing material on early postoperative MR examinations but is less useful in later postoperative examinations.