EMPTY SELLA SYNDROME

Empty sella syndrome is an enlargement of the sella turcica (the bone structure in the lower part of the brain in which the pituitary gland is located) when the pituitary gland is of normal size or when its size is reduced. Patients with empty sella syndrome have a defect in the cerebral canal barrier, which normally separates the cerebrospinal fluid located around the brain from the sella turcica.

As a result, the cerebrospinal fluid puts increased pressure on the pituitary gland and the walls of the sella turcica. The sella turcica may increase in size and the pituitary gland may shrink