Computed tomography in the evaluation of the supraclinoid arteries in suprasellar pituitary gland tumors.

The demonstration of the supraclinoid arteries at CT in 38 patients with suprasellar lesions was evaluated. The anterior cerebral artery was visible in 8 per cent, the other supraclinoid arteries in about 80 per cent. In one patient cerebral angiography revealed a giant aneurysm which was erroneously considered as a suprasellar neoplasm at CT and encephalography. The demonstration of the supraclinoid arteries was often inadequate in large suprasellar tumors. Therefore, cerebral angiography is still necessary preoperatively in suprasellar pituitary lesions-at least at the state of technology represented by the Delta 25 Head Scanner.