Empty sella syndrome

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The pituitary gland

Symptoms of primary empty sella syndrome include:

• Occasional symptoms resulting from high prolactin levels
• Irregular or absent menstruation
• Low libido (sexual desire)
• Impotence (erectile dysfunction)

Often, there are no symptoms or loss of pituitary function.

Patients with secondary empty sella syndrome may have symptoms caused by partial or complete loss of pituitary gland function. For more information, see the article on hypopituitarism.

Empty sella syndrome may be associated with abnormal pituitary function in children, most commonly low levels of growth hormone. However, levels of other pituitary hormones may also be low.

Primary empty sella syndrome is most often discovered during radiological imaging of the brain. Pituitary function is usually normal, and patients do not have any symptoms. The hormone prolactin is a little high in 10-15% of patients, and may interfere with normal function of the testicles or ovaries.

Tests of pituitary gland function may be done to make sure that the gland is working normally. See: Hypopituitarism.

Review Date: 10/25/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, M.D., Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.