Pituitary MRI

A detailed photograph, not a verdict
Clinical review September 2026
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Why this scan is different
A pituitary MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the gland, stalk and surrounding structures. It is better than a routine head scan for answering pituitary questions because millimetres can matter in this crowded area. The scan may be requested after hormone tests, visual symptoms or an incidental finding.
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What the appointment is like
You lie still inside the scanner while it makes loud knocking sounds; ear protection is provided. A contrast injection called gadolinium is often used because it can distinguish normal pituitary tissue from a lesion. Tell the radiology team about implants, previous contrast reactions, kidney problems, pregnancy or claustrophobia before the appointment. Many centres can discuss ways to make the scan more manageable.
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Reading the result in context
MRI can show a lesion, but it cannot by itself tell whether that lesion is making hormones or causing symptoms. Small incidental lesions are common. The report is combined with hormone results, visual testing and previous images, and repeated scans are timed according to the type and size of finding. Sudden severe headache with visual deterioration is an emergency rather than a wait-for-the-next-scan situation.
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Important safety note
This page is general education, not personal medical advice. Seek urgent help for sudden severe headache, new visual loss or double vision, collapse, confusion, seizure, or acute severe illness. Follow individual instructions from your endocrine team for medicines and investigations.
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Further reading

• NHS MRI scan information