engleski

Pineal gland lesions follow-up recorded with transcranial sonography (TCS)

Background: Recently we reported that transcranial sonography (TCS) is a useful and reliable neuroimaging method in the evaluation of pineal gland lesions (PGL). In this study we seek to determine the possibility of TCS and to record PGL during two years follow-up with the assumption that TCS may serve as an alternative neuroimaging method in longitudinal evaluation of PGL. Patients: The study included 14 patients with incidental pineal gland cyst detected by MRI scan. All patients underwent initial TCS and after two years follow-up another TCS was done. Meanwhile four patients underwent surgical treatment. Methods: Two independent physicians performed TCS blindly on results of MRI scan, freehandedly with Aloka ProSound SSD- 5500. Pineal cyst was detected in every hypoechogenic area within hyperechogenic gland matrix or hypoechoic lesion with or without septum surrounded by a thin echoic wall. Maximal width in latero-lateral and antero-posterior line was measured twice and matched with first and second MRI scans. Pearson linear correlation was performed. Results: Variable cysts size and morphology on TCS was recorded (from 4.5x5 mm to 17x10 mm in diameter), however all results significantly correlated with the results of MRI scan (Pearsons coefficient 0.96). None of the patients had an increase in cyst size and all patients who underwent surgical treatment TCS recorded delineation of a lesion. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the capability of TCS to detect PGL and showed that this method in combination with clinical examination may be a suitable alternative neuroimaging method in the follow-up evaluation of PGL.

pineal gland; TCS; transcranial sonography; follow up

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