Empty sella syndrome(ESS) is a disease in which the sella turcica appears empty on radiographic images due to the shrinkage of the pituitary gland. ESS is commonly found in two forms, primary ESS and secondary ESS. Primary ESS(PESS) causes the shrinkage or flattening out of the pituitary gland from an increase in pressure. The increase in pressure could be caused from fluid build up in the skull or a tiny anatomical abnormality above the pituitary gland. The next type, secondary ESS(SESS), occurs from trauma, surgery, or radiation therapy. The pituitary gland will appear smaller in the secondary form also.
ESS in either form is not life threatening, however patients may expierence problems with pituitary gland functions along with some endocrine disfunctions. Surgery may be necessary to treat other medical problems cause indirectly by this syndrome.
Above is a T1 MR sagitial image in which the patient has PESS.
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