ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional study of the cerebral epiphysis, by using brain magnetic resonance imaging was studied in 146 patients with hyper-prolactinemia and 141 persons without diseases of the endocrine or central nervous system. The purpose of the study was to compare the volume and structure of the pineal gland in hyperprolactinemic patients with the similar values in apparently healthy individuals. There was a significant increase in the volume of the epiphysis and a rise of the proportion of cysts and cystic changes in the structure of the epiphysis in patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia as compared with healthy individuals. The increased volume of the epiphysis and the change in its structure may be pathogeneticalfy associated with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. To clarify this as-sumption, it is necessary to perform a larger study and to include hormonal tests characterizing epiphyseal function into the study protocol and to reveal a relationship between the changes in the sizes and structure of the epiphysis and the level of secretion of major hormones.