Possible aetiopathogenetic correlation between primary empty sella and arachnoid cyst

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Endocrinology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Non-neoplastic sellar diseases, including arachnoid cysts and empty sella, are rare conditions.
• These entities can present with diverse clinical manifestations, often mimicking neoplastic lesions.

Observation:

• Three surgically treated cases involving sellar arachnoid cysts (n=2) and empty sella (n=1) are presented.
• All patients experienced visual deficits as the primary symptom.
• No significant endocrine dysfunction was noted in the observed cases.

Findings:

• Surgical intervention was performed for symptomatic relief.
• Analysis of these cases and literature review supports a potential unified theory for the pathogenesis of sellar arachnoid cysts and empty sella.
• The proposed hypothesis focuses on factors contributing to the development of these non-neoplastic sellar pathologies.

Implications:

• Understanding the pathogenesis of these conditions can aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.
• This research may refine surgical approaches for non-neoplastic sellar masses.
• Further investigation into the proposed unitary hypothesis could advance the understanding of sellar cyst and empty sella development.