Diagnosis of an "empty sella"
If the doctor recommends undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sella, do not be afraid before time. The procedure is painless, noninvasive and helps to determine the mass of diseases at early stages. Malignant tumors in this area are rare, benign and amenable to medical or surgical treatment depending on the degree of spread.
First, let's figure out what a Turkish saddle is and why it happens to be empty. This is the name of the bone cavity inside the human skull, where the pituitary gland is located. It protects the gland from mechanical stress. The normal position of the pituitary gland is considered to be dense filling of the cavity space. The deviation from the norm, for example, when the lower brain appendage located at the bottom of the bone pockets, in medicine called "empty sella syndrome."
The prerequisites for a pathology
The syndrome is diagnosed in every 10 patients examined. Most often occurs in overweight women aged 35-55 years. Also, there are several other causes of disease. The syndrome of "empty sella" can develop as a result of:
- genetic predisposition;
- obesity;
- hormonal failure (pregnancy, puberty, oral contraceptives, menopause, etc...);
- cardiovascular disease;
- tumors or hemorrhages in the brain;
- inflammatory processes;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics.
Also, the cause of the deviation can be an external effect on the body: a concussion, chemotherapy, surgical intervention.
Signs
The disease may not manifest itself in any way. In this case, the diagnosis can be difficult. However, typically "empty sella syndrome" has pronounced signs.
During prolonged stress appear neurological symptoms:
- headache of unknown etiology;
- blood pressure surges;
- heart pain, fainting;
- panic attacks, emotional depression, or anger;
- abdominal pain;
- lower limbs cramp;
- high temperature.
From endocrine system syndrome "empty sella" manifests itself following violations:
- partial sexual dysfunction, breast enlargement in men;
- diabetes;
- resizing and disruption of the thyroid gland;
- failures in the menstrual cycle, infertility;
- the deterioration of the work of the adrenal glands.
Empty sella located close to the optic nerve. With the wrong location of the pituitary gland in the cavity, their blood circulation is disturbed. In this regard, vision problems occur in almost all cases and are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- tearing;
- decreased visual acuity;
- bifurcation of objects;
- occurrence of black dots;
- darkening in the eyes.
Of course, the appearance of any of the listed symptoms does not guarantee the presence of this particular disease. An accurate diagnosis can only be made after a doctor's appointment. If necessary, a specialist will appoint mri of sella turcica.
Treatment
Upon detection of disorders of the pituitary is carried out therapeutic treatment: drugs for suppression or replacement hormone, surgical intervention in the presence of tumors. The course of treatment can be taken in a municipal and private clinic.