J Korean Endocr Soc.  2006 Dec;21(6):567-571.

A Case of Cushing's Disease due to Pituitary Microadenoma Combined with Primary Empty Sella Syndrome

• Lee YJ
• Rhee S
• Chon S
• Oh S
• Woo JT
• Kim SW
• Kim JW
• Kim YS
• Lee BW
• Jeon JW

Abstract

An empty sella is defined as a sella which, regardless of its size, is completely or partly filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The endocrine function of primary empty sella syndrome is usually normal, but sometimes this syndrome is associated with complete or partial pituitary insufficiency and rarely hypersecretion of pituitary hormone. Primary empty sella syndrome combined with Cushing's disease has rarely been reported. A 45-years-old woman presented with cushingoid feature. Her urinary cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion were increased. The results of endocrine function testing were suggestive of Cushing's disease. Sella MRI showed of partially empty sella and pituitary microadenoma. The pituitary microadenoma was removed by the trans-sphenoidal approach. We report here on this case together with a review of the literature.

Keyword

Cushing's disease; Empty sella syndrome; Pituitary microadenoma

MeSH Terms

Cerebrospinal Fluid
Empty Sella Syndrome*
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypopituitarism
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Hydrocortisone

Figure

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  Fig. 1 MRI of pituitary gland. A. Coronal T1-weighted MR scan shows a partially empty sella; B. Coronal post contrast T1-weighted MR scan shows a tiny hypointense lesion within the enhancing pituitary gland (5 × 4.9 mm in size).

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  Fig. 2 Histology of the resected pituitary mass. Microscopic appearance of (H&E stain, × 100) panel shows solid sheet of neoplastic cells with intervening vascular channels. The indivisual cell are round to oval nucleus with acidophilic and clear cytoplasm.

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