The clinical and radiological features of the empty sella syndrome

Sage, Michael R.; Chan, E. S. H.; Reilly, Peter

doi:10.1016/s0009-9260(80)80035-3

Cited by 16 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Whenever there is evidence of an enlarged sella from skull radiography, there is a need to differentiate the empty sella phenomena from the presence of an intrasellar tumor [4]. The infundibulum sign has been described by Haughton and colleagues [5] as specific for empty sella.…”

Section: Psmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Empty Sella Phenomena

Gouliamos

Athanassopoulou

Souvatzoglou

et al. 1993

Journal of Neuroimaging

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Of 500 consecutive unselected patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 20 (12 females, 8 males;mean age, 41 yr) were found to have empty sella. The clinical and imaging findings were compared to those in 20 normal adult control subjects, and 20 patients of comparable age and sex from the group of 500 consecutive patients. Variations in the pituitary infundibulum, the optic chiasm, and the sellar floor did not correlate to symptoms. Little difference in clinical symptomatology between patients with empty sella and control subjects was found. It is concluded that empty sella is often an insignificant finding in adults.Gouliamos AD, Athanassopoulou AK, Souvatzoglou AM, Kalovidouris AE, Vlahos LJ, Papavasiliou CG. Magnetic resonance imaging in empty sella phenomena. Neuroimag 1993;3:173-177 Coronal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is reported to be more sensitive than computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of empty sella [1][2][3]. Differentiation between partially empty sella and empty sella has become important because the number of diagnoses of empty sella has increased since the advent of MRL This study aimed to correlate the clinical and MRI features of 20 patients presenting with empty sella with those of control subjects. Anatomical variations of the patients were compared to their symptoms. J Materials and MethodsFrom a total of 500 consecutive unselected patients who underwent MRI, 20 ( 4%) were selected, and MRI findings of the brain and/or pituitary were reviewed in order to Received Jul 22, 1992, and in revised form Oct 1, 1992, and Feb 3, 1993. Accepted for publication Feb 5, 1993.Address correspondence to Dr Gouliamos. evaluate the clinical and radiological features of empty sella. Selection criteria included sellar size, sellar contents, presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the sella, compression of the pituitary gland, and infundibular location. Criteria for classifying patients into the empty-sella group were sellar shape and size, position of the optic chiasm and the pituitary infundibulum, and pituitary size. The diagnosis of empty sella was reserved for patients in whom compression of the pituitary gland was manifested by a vertical dimension 3 mm or less and a flat surface. There were 12 females and 8 males, with a mean age of 41 years. Twenty age-matched normal control subjects (50% female) were also studied. From the group of 500 consecutive patients, patients of comparable age and sex were selected and their symptoms evaluated in relation to those with empty sella and the control group. The symptoms sought and the percentage of positive symptoms in each group were compared. The clinical findings of the patients examined were reviewed and compared with the anatomical features observed on MRis. When benign intracranial hypertension was suspected, the ventricular size and subarachnoid spaces and optic nerve thickness were also evaluated.Examinations were performed on a 0.5-T MR MAX General Electric (Milwaukee, WI) CGR unit (5.0 software release)...

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Section: Psmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Empty Sella Phenomena

Gouliamos

Athanassopoulou

Souvatzoglou

et al. 1993

Journal of Neuroimaging

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“…The false impression of an empty sella can be created by a partial volume effect in patients with a hyperpneumatized sphenoid sinus or dilated perisellar CSF spaces.9 In questionable cases, intrathecal metrizamide may be nec¬ essary to further demonstrate the herniated subarachnoid space. 15,16 Generally, ESS is a benign condi¬ tion with a good prognosis; neverthe¬ less, it is the clinician's responsibility to rule out an intrasellar neoplasm. Equally as important, however, is the follow-up of these patients.…”

Section: Report Of a Casementioning

confidence: 99%

Headache and the Primary Empty Sella Syndrome

Jd¹,

Ri²

1986

Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

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\s=b\ Otolaryngologists frequently encounter patients with complaints of headaches. On occasion, normal physical examination findings may be accompanied by a roentgenographic enlargement of the sella turcica. In the process of evaluation for an intrasellar neoplasm, an "empty sella" is occasionally discovered.Patients with this condition commonly have headaches, although a cause-effect relationship is controversial. Endocrine and visual disturbances, although rare, necessitate periodic evaluation of these patients. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1986;112:883-885) Otol aryngol ogi sts frequently en¬ counter patients with com¬ plaints of "sinus headaches." The presence of an enlarged sella on roent¬ genographic evaluation of the sinuses, while suggestive of an intrasellar neo¬ plasm, is commonly identified on com¬ puted tomographic (CT) scan as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) density fill¬ ing the sella. The purpose of this article is to bring to the attention of

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Diagnostic Imaging

Levin

1987

Gynecologic Endocrinology

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The clinical and radiological features of the empty sella syndrome

Cited by 16 publications

References 26 publications

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Empty Sella Phenomena

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Empty Sella Phenomena

Headache and the Primary Empty Sella Syndrome

Diagnostic Imaging

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