Skip to main content

Abstract

An empty sella refers to a condition in which an arachnoid diverticulum extends into the sella, often causing reshaping and flattening of the pituitary gland and stalk.

This entity is frequently characterized as either a primary or secondary empty sella syndrome, depending on the etiology and associated conditions.

Suggested causes of primary empty sella (PES) include numerous congenital and developmental syndromes, congenital defects in the diaphragma sella, and chronic elevations in intracranial pressure (such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension). Defects of the diaphragma sella appear to be necessary—but not sufficient—in causing arachnoidal diverticula and PES.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ommaya AK, Di Chiro G, Baldwin M, Pennybacker JB. Non-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1968;31:214–25.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Foley KM, Posner JB. Does pseudotumor cerebri cause the empty sella syndrome? Neurology. 1975;25:565–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Brismar K, Bergstrand G. CSF circulation in subjects with the empty sella syndrome. Neuroradiology. 1981;21:167–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hubbard JL, McDonald TJ, Pearson BW, Laws Jr ER. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea: evolving concepts in diagnosis and surgical management based on the Mayo Clinic experience from 1970 through 1981. Neurosurgery. 1985;16:314–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Guitelman M, Garcia Basavilbaso N, Vitale M, Chervin A, Katz D, Miragaya K, et al. Primary empty sella (PES): a review of 175 cases. Pituitary. 2013;16:270–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. De Marinis L, Bonadonna S, Bianchi A, Maira G, Giustina A. Primary empty sella. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90:5471–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Maira G, Anile C, Mangiola A. Primary empty sella syndrome in a series of 142 patients. J Neurosurg. 2005;103:831–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Brismar K, Efendic S. Pituitary function in the empty sella syndrome. Neuroendocrinology. 1981;32:70–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Durodoye OM, Mendlovic DB, Brenner RS, Morrow JS. Endocrine disturbances in empty sella syndrome: case reports and review of literature. Endocr Pract. 2005;11:120–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hamlyn PJ, Baer R, Afshar F. Transsphenoidal chiasmopexy for long standing visual failure in the secondary empty sella syndrome. Br J Neurosurg. 1988;2:277–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gallardo E, Schächter D, Cáceres E, Becker P, Colin E, Martínez C, Henríquez C. The empty sella: results of treatment in 76 successive cases and high frequency of endocrine and neurological disturbances. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1992;37:529–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriel Zada MD, MS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zada, G., Lopes, M.B.S., Mukundan, S., Laws, E. (2016). Empty Sella Syndrome. In: Zada, G., Lopes, M., Mukundan Jr., S., Laws Jr., E. (eds) Atlas of Sellar and Parasellar Lesions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22855-6_67

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22855-6_67

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-22854-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-22855-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics