empty sella syndrome [AS, oemettig, unoccupied; L, sella, saddle] , an abnormal enlargement of the sella turcica filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The pituitary gland may be smaller than normal and flattened, or it may be absent. Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance (for example, hypopituitarism) may be present, as may headache, but some patients are asymptomatic. The diagnosis may be made by computed axial tomography scan, skull radiographic study, or pneumoencephalography.
