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Empty sella

Case contributed by Marlon Garcia H
Diagnosis not applicable

Presentation

Headache and vertigo

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Female
mri

Intrasellar extension of the subarachnoid space into the cavity of the sella turca, i.e. an empty sella.

Case Discussion

An empty sella is frequently and incidentally observed in MRI scans. The hallmark of the finding is, as the name suggests, a pituitary fossa which is largely empty of tissue, replaced by CSF. 

Most patients with empty sella are entirely asymptomatic and endocrinologically normal; however, some patients could have complaints of dizziness, vertigo, headache and visual alterations, and also could have some pituitary hormonal disorders.

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