LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Differentiating sellar region meningiomas from pituitary adenomas on standard MRI sequences can be difficult. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a non-invasive technique of magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion imaging. The range of applications of ASL in neurosurgery have increased and the information provided can be unique and complementary to other MRI sequences. Here we investigate the utility of ASL MRI in differentiating between sellar region meningiomas and pituitary adenomas. METHODS Retrospective comparison of quantitative assessments on absolute and normalised tumour blood flow in histologically proven meningiomas versus pituitary adenomas. RESULTS a total of 15 patients with sellar region lesions were identified, 9 meningiomas and 6 pituitary adenomas. Mean absolute tumour blood flow and normalised tumour blood flow was significantly higher in meningiomas (131ml/100g/min & 2.22) as compared to adenomas (47ml/100g/min & 0.92) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION ASL MR imaging is a useful adjunct sequence in differentiating sellar region meningiomas, which exhibit high perfusion, from pituitary adenomas, which exhibit relatively low perfusion.