Comparison of sella tursica volumes among patients with primary empty sella, sheehan syndrome and healthy individuals

Abstract

Background: Sella turcica volumes vary greatly among patients both with and without pituitary dysfunction. We aim to investigate differences in sella turcica volumes and pituitary hormone levels among patients with primary empty sella (PES), sheehan syndrome (SS) and healthy individuals. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study of both the sella turcica volume and pituitary hormone levels of 75 female patients. These patients were divided into three groups: those with PES group, SS group and those with no known pituitary dysfunction. Results: We demonstrated that sella turcica volumes were measured as 895.6±330.6 mm3, 125.8±50.8 mm3 and 679.5±129.5 mm3 in PES group, SS group and healthy groups respectively. There was statisticaly difference between PES group and healthy group. Additionaly, SS group had statisticaly lower sella turcica volume than healthy group. PES group had statisticaly lower adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, free T4, prolactin and insulin like growth factor-1 levels than healthy group. All of the SS group had panhypopituitarism. Conclusion: Enlarged sella turcica volume may be a risk factor for primary empty sella syndrome and primary empty sella related low hormone levels. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that smaller sella turcica volume may be a risk factor for developing Sheehan Syndrome. As such, we propose that sella volume may therefore be used as a predictor for devoloping pituitary hormone deficiencies in the future. Further clinical studies are required to better understand the relationship between sella turcica volume and pituitary hormone levels.

Keywords

• sheehan syndrome
• primary empty sella
• sella tursica volume