The Role of CT, MR Imaging, and Ultrasonography in Endocrinology

Many disorders commonly affect various organs of the endocrine system. The nuclear medicine physician and radiologist must be aware of the manifestations of these disorders that may be detected on structural imaging modalities. In this article, we provide a brief review of the advantages and disadvantages of CT, MR imaging, and ultrasonography. We then discuss the role of these structural imaging modalities in the evaluation of disorders affecting the endocrine organs. In particular, we focus our review on imaging evaluation of the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, and the adrenal gland. Specific examples of some of the disease entities affecting these organs are also reviewed.