pituitary gland

[Kenneth Abramovitch]

This is true if one is talking about intraoral radiographs.  However,
the pituitary fossa is routinely imaged and identified on lateral
cephalometric skull radiographs taken by dentsits, most notably OMR's
pediatric dentists, orthodontists, OM surgeons and even prosthodontists.
The comment made by the dentist may have been subjective, but one can
make statements about the size of the fossa and hence inferences about
the size of the gland if it was based on a lateral cephalometric skull
radiograph.
 
On pediatric patients, it is even possible to image the pituitary fossa
on panoramic radiographs.  The pituitary fossa may be  included in the
image as it may be positoned in the focal trough of a six inch vertical
panoramic film.  I teach students to recognize it on the panoramic image
if it is there, but the panoramic film is not a routine imaging modality
for the pituitary fossa.     
 

Kenneth Abramovitch, D.D.S., M.S.

Associate Professor

Dept of Diagnostic Sciences

Dental Branch, UTHSC at Houston

6516 M.D. Anderson Blvd., Suite 1.072C

Houston, TX  77030

Voicemail: 713-500-4109

 

        -----Original Message-----
        From: 117553N%KODAK at KNOTES.KODAK.COM
[mailto:117553N%KODAK at KNOTES.KODAK.COM] 
        Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 9:22 AM
        To: ORADLIST at listserv.ucla.edu
        Subject: pituitary gland
	
	

        Hello all, 
        Today's local newspaper carried a Q/A column in which the
columnist was asked about a dentist's comment during a recent dental
visit. During that visit, the dentist made an observation about a
child's (boy) pituitary gland being abnormally small.  This doctor made
this observation based on a dental x-ray (column did not elaborate as to
what type of x-ray, why it was taken or child's age).   
	
        In response, the columnist recommended that the child be taken
to a physician as a precautionary measure.  The columist also mentioned
that he "found it hard to believe that a dental x-ray could capture the
pituitary gland or the bone in which its sits". 
	
        Could someone please comment on the accuracy of either the
dentist or the columist's observations ? 
	
        Thanks in advance.
	
        Ruth Arbuckle
        Eastman Kodak Dental Business
        343 State St.
        Rochester NY 14650-1122
        585-724-2462
        http://www.kodak.com/go/dental
	
	

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