[The primary empty sella syndrome: a clinical and neuroradiological study of 10 cases].

Primary empty sella is an anatomical entity in which an enlarged pituitary fossa is partially filled with cerebrospinal fluid owing to the arachnoid herniation and the pituitary gland is compressed against the fossa. This condition can be due to an inherent weakness of the diaphragma of the sella as well as to an increase in intracranial pressure. Empty sella can be associated with neuroradiological and endocrine symptoms and the present study reports the clinical, endocrine and radiological features in 10 patients with primary empty sella syndrome. We conclude that the endocrine alterations are frequent in the empty sella syndrome and that the most specific and sensible neuroradiological investigation is N.M.R.