[Imaging diagnosis in the study of the hypophysis in congenital hypothyroidism]

A high incidence of empty sella was found, by CT.HR and MR, in 18 patients with congenital hypothyroidism studied by plain skull radiographs, hormonal and radioimmunoassays and scintiscan. From a pathogenetic point of view, it is interesting to note that all patients had been given inadequate therapy for a long period. A significant incidence of cerebral atrophy was found in young congenital hypothyroid subjects. Radiographic examination is still useful, mainly in the screening of these lesions. In fact, morphologic and/or volumetric alterations of the sella, corresponded in all cases to the finding of an empty sella, as demonstrated by CT.HR and MR. Both these techniques have a high diagnostic accuracy in identifying the lesion. The contribution of imaging techniques is even greater in view of the fact that the clinical and biohumoral picture of empty sella is still ill-defined.