Fast acquisition sagittal T1 magnetic resonance imaging (FAST1-MRI): a new imaging approach for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.

Routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an established standard method to investigate the etiology of pituitary insufficiency. Among the anatomic abnormalities usually observed, ectopic hyperintense signal on T1 sequence is the most frequently associated with pituitary dysfunction. We developed a new protocol (FAST1-MRI) which is able to detect anatomic hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities with 100% concordance when compared to the routine MRI protocol. FAST1-MRI takes only 3.25 minutes, and is performed without contrast, sedation or anesthesia. We studied 17 controls and 31 patients with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (18/31 with abnormal MRI). Patients with ectopic hyperintense signal were shorter in height, had lower IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels, and reduced GH response after clonidine. In conclusion, we describe a new simplified MRI protocol that we propose should be used in the diagnosis of GH deficiency.