What causes enlarged sella turcica?

ESS may happen if you have an enlarged sella turcica. This is a bony structure where the pituitary gland sits at the base of the brain. Health experts don’t know what causes primary ESS. Secondary ESS may be caused by injury, radiation therapy, or surgery.

Why is the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone important?

Function. The sella turcica forms a bony seat for the pituitary gland.

What bone is associated with sella turcica?

The sphenoid bone
Introduction: The sphenoid bone has a superior depression called the sella turcica, Latin for “Turkish saddle,” where the pituitary gland is found. The availability of modern radiological imaging techniques has replaced plain radiography of the sella turcica in the investigation of hypothalamo-pituitary abnormalities.

What is the sella turcica in sphenoid bone?

The sella turcica is a midline depression in the sphenoid bone which contains the pituitary gland and distal portion of the pituitary stalk.

What doctor treats empty sella syndrome?

Jefferson Health endocrinologists provide comprehensive care and expert evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of empty sella syndrome and other disorders involving the pituitary gland.

What does the sella turcica do?

Within your skull, there’s a small, bony nook at the base of your brain that holds and protects your pituitary gland (which controls how hormones work in your body). This tiny structure is called the sella turcica.

What part of the brain sits in the sella turcica?

The pituitary is a small gland located just underneath the brain. It is attached to the bottom of the brain by the pituitary stalk. The pituitary sits protected inside a saddle-like bony compartment in the base of the skull. This compartment is called the sella.

What causes empty sella turcica?

There are two types of ESS: primary and secondary. Primary ESS happens when a small anatomical defect above the pituitary gland allows spinal fluid to partially or completely fill the sella turcica. This causes the gland to flatten out along the interior walls of the sella turcica cavity.

How do you fix empty sella syndrome?

Treatment. For primary empty sella syndrome: There is no treatment if pituitary function is normal. Medicines may be prescribed to treat any abnormal hormone levels.