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Sellar emptiness on routine magnetic resonance imaging
M Hardjasudarma1, K E White, I Nandy
1Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932.
Southern Medical Journal
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Empty sella findings on brain MRI are common and increase with age, particularly in women. This observation on routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typically holds no clinical significance.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers detailed views of the sella turcica and pituitary gland.
- The observation of a pituitary gland not fully occupying the sella, termed "empty sella" or "partially empty sella," is frequent in individuals.
- The clinical significance of these findings can be unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of empty or partially empty sella findings on routine brain MRI.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 50 "near-normal" patients.
- Analysis focused exclusively on midsagittal T1-weighted MRI sequences.
- Statistical analysis was employed to assess correlations with age and sex.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in sellar emptiness was observed with advancing age.
- This age-related phenomenon was found to be more pronounced in female patients.
- The presence of an empty or partially empty sella was common in the studied population.
Conclusions:
- The finding of an empty or partially empty sella on routine brain MRI is generally not clinically significant.
- Age and female sex are associated with increased prevalence of sellar emptiness.
- Routine MRI findings of empty sella do not typically warrant further clinical investigation.