What is empty sella syndrome?
Empty sella syndrome refers to a condition in which the pituitary gland appears to be flattened within the sella turcica. The sella turcica is a bony pocket in the skull that holds the pituitary where it hangs down from the brain. Normally, it is completely filled by the pituitary gland. In empty sella, most of the space is taken up by the fluid that bathes the brain (called cerebrospinal fluid or CSF). Usually, empty sella is of no consequence because it occurs in a relatively large number of otherwise healthy people and does not result in any significant abnormality in pituitary function. Occasionally, however, it is associated with hormone abnormalities or other symptoms such as frequent headaches or visual disturbances. The cause of empty sella is unknown and probably varied. In some cases, it may reflect an earlier compression by a pituitary tumor that has since shrunken or disappeared altogether.
Published: Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS) is a disorder that involves the sella turcica, a bony structure at the base of the brain that surrounds and protects the pituitary gland. ESS is a condition that is often discovered during tests for pituitary disorders, when radiological imaging of the pituitary gland reveals a sella turica that appears to be empty. There are two types of ESS: primary and secondary. Primary ESS happens when a small anatomical defect above the pituitary gland increases pressure in the sella turica and causes the gland to flatten out along the interior walls of the sella turica cavity. Primary ESS is associated with obesity and high blood pressure in women. The disorder sometimes results in a build-up of fluid pressure inside the skull and the pituitary gland may be smaller than usual. Secondary ESS is the result of the pituitary gland regressing within the cavity after an injury, surgery, or radiation therapy. Individuals with secondary ESS due to destruction of the
Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS) is a disorder that involves the sella turcica, a bony structure at the base of the brain that surrounds and protects the pituitary gland. ESS is a condition that is often discovered during tests for pituitary disorders, when radiological imaging of the pituitary gland reveals a sella turica that appears to be empty. There are two types of ESS: primary and secondary. Primary ESS happens when a small anatomical defect above the pituitary gland increases pressure in the sella turica and causes the gland to flatten out along the interior walls of the sella turica cavity. Primary ESS is associated with obesity and high blood pressure in women. The disorder sometimes results in a build-up of fluid pressure inside the skull and the pituitary gland may be smaller than usual. Secondary ESS is the result of the pituitary gland regressing within the cavity after an injury, surgery, or radiation therapy. Individuals with secondary ESS due to destruction of the pituitary
• Empty Sella Syndrome: Congenital defect of the brain. • Empty Sella Syndrome: A condition associated with underdevelopment or absence of the diaphragma sellae which allows herniation of the meninges into the SELLA TURCICA. The pituitary gland becomes compressed against the walls of the sella and the sella may enlarge. Female gender; OBESITY; PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI; and pituitary ADENOMA are associated with this condition, which may present with HEADACHE. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch36, p85) Source – Diseases Database Empty Sella Syndrome is listed as a “rare disease” by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Empty Sella Syndrome, or a subtype of Empty Sella Syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Empty sella syndrome is a condition involving the sella turcica, a portion of the brain that surrounds and protects the pituitary gland. With this condition, the pituitary gland flattens or shrinks, making the sella turcica appear empty. In most cases, the pituitary gland is of normal size (or a bit smaller) and still functions normally.
