Progressive "empty sella" syndrome, gonadotropins deficiency and congenital aqueductal stenosis. Case report

Abstract

A 23-year old woman had both the empty sella syndrome (ESS) and congenital stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius, diagnosed by fractionated pneumencephalography. A progressive increase of the pituitary fossa followed a brisk intracranial hypertension. Dynamic pituitary function tests show a secondary gonadotropin deficiency. The role of intracranial pressure in the pathogenesis of "empty sella" syndrome, as well as the necessity to investigate by pneumencephalography all the patients with progressive enlargement of sella turcica and secondary pituitary deficiency are suggested.