Relationship Between Radiological Features of Primary Empty or Primary Partial Empty Sella and Pituitary Hormone...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the radiological criteria determining an primary empty or primary partial empty sella and the pituitary hormone levels. Methods: Out of 594 patients who underwent pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we selected 43 patients with primarily empty and partial empty sella and conducted a prospective evaluation of pituitary MRI in 2022. Pituitary craniocaudal (CC) diameter, pituitary volume, sellar volume, pituitary volume expressed as a percentage of sellar volume (bony sella), and pituitary height expressed as a percentage of sellar height (craniocaudal) were assessed. Serum pituitary hormone concentrations were measured, and a logistic regression analysis was performed to assess a relationship between the radiological and hormonal parameters. Results: Only six patients (14%) exhibited abnormal hormone levels. None of the assessed radiological parameters were correlated with the presence of the hormonal disorders either in the univariate or multivariate logistic regression analysis. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between age and the hormonal disorders (OR 0.916 [0.844-0.993]; p = 0.034), but this was not confirmed in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that radiological parameters alone are insufficient to predict hormonal dysfunction in patients with empty or partial empty sella. However, younger patients may be at a higher risk, warranting closer hormonal monitoring.