Journal List > J Korean Endocr Soc > v.21(6) > 1003343

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Cho, Sohn, Lee, Kim, Park, Lee, and Son: Two Cases of Acromegaly with Empty Sella
Case Report
Journal of Korean Endocrine Society

Journal of Korean Endocrine Society 2006; 21(6): 572-576.

Published online: 20 December 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/jkes.2006.21.6.572

Two Cases of Acromegaly with Empty Sella

Hyun Sun Cho, Tae Seo Sohn, So Young Lee, Kyoung Hee Kim, Yu Kyung Park, Jung Min Lee, Hyun Shik Son

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

Received 13 February 2006       Accepted 28 June 2006

Copyright © 2006 Korean Endocrine Society

Abstract

An empty sella may develop as a consequence of a primary congenital weakness of the diaphragm for which no secondary cause is evident. A secondary empty sella may develop after infarction of a pituitary adenoma or because of surgical or radiation-induced damage to the sellar diaphragm. Acromegaly is caused by growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion and the resultant elevated levels of circulating insulin like growth factor-1. The underlying abnormality in more than 98% of cases is hypersecretion of GH by a pituitary GH-producing tumor. Necrosis and hemorrhage, which frequently occur in pituitary adenomas, may lead to complete or partial disappearance of the adenoma, and subsequently, to an empty sella. We report two cases of acromegaly with empty sella, and the patients had no symptoms of pituitary apoplexy.

Keywords: Acromegaly, Empty sella, Growth hormone

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Sella MRI T-1 weighted coronal (A) and sagittal (B) images of case 1 showed that pituitary fossa was prominent in size and most of that was filled with cerebrospinal fluid without definite focal pituitary mass lesion. The coronal (C) and sagittal (D) images of case 2 showed the same features.
jkes-21-572-g001
Table 1
100 g Oral glucose-growth hormone suppression test of case 1 and case 2
jkes-21-572-i001
Table 2
Combined pituitary stimulation test of case 1 and case 2
jkes-21-572-i002

ACTH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone. GH, growth hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.

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