| Empty sella syndrome Classification and external resources |
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| ICD-9 | 253.8 |
|---|---|
| DiseasesDB | 31523 |
| MeSH | D004652 |
Empty sella syndrome (abbreviated ESS) is a disorder that involves the sella turcica, a bony structure at the base of the brain that surrounds and protects the pituitary gland. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify Diseases The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. The Diseases Database is a free Website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions Symptoms, and Medications. Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH) is a huge Controlled vocabulary (or metadata system for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books The Sella turcica (literally Turkish saddle is a saddle-shaped depression in the Sphenoid bone at the base of the Human Skull. The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an Endocrine gland about the size of a Pea. ESS is a condition that is often discovered during tests for pituitary disorders, when radiological imaging of the pituitary gland reveals a sella turcica that appears to be empty.
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Classification
There are two types of ESS: primary and secondary.
- Primary ESS happens when a small anatomical defect above the pituitary gland increases pressure in the sella turcica and causes the gland to flatten out along the interior walls of the sella turcica cavity. Primary ESS is associated with obesity and high blood pressure in women. Obesity is a condition in which excess Body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the Blood pressure is chronically elevated The disorder sometimes results in a build-up of fluid pressure inside the skull and the pituitary gland may be smaller than usual.
- Secondary ESS is the result of the pituitary gland regressing within the cavity after an injury, surgery, or radiation therapy. Injury or bodily injury is Damage or Harm caused to the Structure or function of the Body caused by an outside agent or Surgery (from the χειρουργική cheirourgikē, via chirurgiae meaning "hand work" is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is the medical use of Ionizing radiation as part of Cancer treatment to control Malignant Individuals with secondary ESS due to destruction of the pituitary gland have symptoms that reflect the loss of pituitary functions, such as the ceasing of menstrual periods, infertility, fatigue, and intolerance to stress and infection. The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiologic changes that occurs in reproductive-age Females Overt menstruation (where there is blood flow from the Female infertility|Male infertility Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a Man or a Woman to contribute to conception.
Associated conditions and diagnosis
In children, ESS may be associated with early onset of puberty, growth hormone deficiency, pituitary tumors, or pituitary gland dysfunction. Precocious puberty (La pubertas praecox) is an unusually early onset of Puberty, the process of sexual maturation triggered by the brain or exogenous chemicals which Growth hormone ( GH) is a Peptide hormone that stimulates growth and cell reproduction in humans and other animals MRI scans are useful in evaluating ESS and differentiating it from other disorders that produce an enlarged sella.
Treatment
Unless the syndrome results in other medical problems, treatment for endocrine dysfunction associated with pituitary malfunction is symptomatic and supportive. In some cases, surgery may be needed.
Prognosis
ESS is not a life-threatening illness.
External links
- emptysella at NINDS