Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in primary empty sella syndrome in childhood.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Neuroradiology

Background:

• The sella turcica houses the pituitary gland, and abnormalities can indicate endocrine dysfunction.
• Empty sella turcica is a condition where the sella appears empty or partially empty on imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of empty sella turcica in children referred to a pediatric endocrine unit.
• To explore the association between empty sella turcica and pituitary hormone deficiencies in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 37 consecutive CT scans in children evaluated by a pediatric endocrine unit.
• Assessment of sella turcica morphology and correlation with endocrine test results.

Main Results:

• Nine out of 37 children (24%) presented with an empty or partially empty sella turcica.
• Five of these children showed evidence of decreased growth hormone secretion.
• Two children had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies.

Conclusions:

• Primary empty sella syndrome appears frequently associated with hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in children.
• Further research is needed to understand the prevalence in healthy children and the causal relationship with pituitary dysfunction.