Visual Field Defect in Primary Empty Sella Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction
Empty sella occurs as a result of a deficient
diaphragma sellae, with subarachnoid space
protruding into the cavity of sella tursica. Pituitary
gland is flattened and distorted against the sella
floor and walls. The sella is usually enlarged, but
this feature is not always present. The term
çprimary empty sellaé is used when anomaly occurs
in patients who never had surgery radiation on
pituitary or Para pituitary tumor1. The diagnosis
of empty sella is radiographically made when the
sella tursica is seen to be enlarged or deformed
that is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal
fluid2.

Most patients with primary empty sella are
asymptomatic and incidentally detected. The
presence of empty sella was found in 5 percent
of normal subjects on autopsy studies3.

Typically primary empty sella syndrome
occurs in obese, multiparous women, ranging in
age from 27 to 72 years, with a mean age of
49 years old. Empty sella Aas been associated
with hypertension, pseudotumor cerebri, hypopituitarism,
spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
rhinorrhoea, visual field defects, diminished visual
acuity and headache4.