Clinical analysis of 44 cases of empty sella / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients with empty sella (ES) and to improve the realization of this disease. Methods The clinical data of 44 patients with ES were collected from April 1988 to February 2005 and were retrospectively analyzed. Results (1) The patients, including 13 males and 31 females, aged (53±17) years (23-84). The median duration of the disease was 36 months (5-480). (2) The primary ES (93.2%) was more frequent than the secondary ES (6.8%). Among the patients, 19 cases (43.2%) with hypertension and 17 cases (38.6%) with cerebral infarction were found. Twenty-two female cases (71.0%) were multiparous. (3) The symptoms and clinical pictures included obesity (54.5%), dizziness (43.2%), headache (38.6%), impaired eyesight (20.5%) and hypopituitarism crisis (4.5%). (4) Secondary hypothyroidism occurred in 8 cases (22.9%), secondary hypogonadism in 5 cases (14.3%),secondary hypoadrenalism in 3 cases (8.6%) and hyperprolactinemia in 2 cases (5.7%). (5) The diagnosis depended on CT and MRI. The positive rate of pituitary MRI scan was 100%. Conclusions Long-term follow-up for ES cases is necessary. The patients with hypoadenia need to be treated as soon as possible to prevent the hypopituitarism crisis, which seems not to be infrequent and neads paying particular attention.