- Description
- Considered a radiologic finding rather than a clinical condition
- A small and flat pituitary gland within the sella turcica on MRI (empty sella)
- Epidemiology: occurs most often in obese women with hypertension
- Etiology
- Primary form: idiopathic
- Secondary form: associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- Pathophysiology
- Primary form: enlargement or malformation of the sella turcica, which surrounds the pituitary gland → CSF leaks in and partially or completely fills the sella turcica → compression and/or atrophy of the pituitary gland
- Clinical features