empty sella syndrome

empty sella syndrome

Etymology: AS, oemettig, unoccupied; L, sella, saddle

an abnormal enlargement of the sella turcica filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The pituitary gland may be smaller than normal and flattened, or it may be absent. Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance (for example, hypopituitarism) may be present, as may headache, but some patients are asymptomatic. The diagnosis may be made by computed axial tomography scan, skull radiographic study, or pneumoencephalography.

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empty sella syndrome

Empty sella turcica, intrasellar arachnocele Neuroradiology The finding of a moderately enlarged sella turcica, due to a partial/complete absence of sellar diaphragm; it is most common in obese, middle-aged ♀; compression of hypophysis against the floor and posterior wall of the sella, by the extended suprasellar cisterns may be accompanied by pituitary hypofunction, although TSH, gonadotropin, and prolactin levels may be ↓ and/or accompanied by diabetes insipidus Clinical Vague headaches, systemic HTN, pseudotumor cerebri; if secondary, CSF rhinorrhea, but may be asymptomatic