Empty sella secondary to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: two case reports and literature review

YAO Xiaoying; DAI Ruolian; GUAN Yangtai

doi:10.12022/jnnr.2016-0064

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Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation ›› 2017, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (1) : 51-57. DOI: 10.12022/jnnr.2016-0064

Case Report

Empty sella secondary to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: two case reports and literature review

YAO Xiaoying, DAI Ruolian, GUAN Yangtai

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Abstract

Objective: Empty sella has been defined as the herniation of the subarachnoid space into the sella turcica through the defected sellar diaphragm. Primary empty sella (PES) is not related to any known previous diseases of pituitary gland, but is considered to be caused by increased intracranial pressure (ICP), in association with defects of the sellar diaphragm. This case report aims to report the empty sella induced by chronic ICP. Methods: Two cases of empty sella related to chronic intracranial hypertension caused by cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) were reported. Results: In the present two cases, headache was the main clinical symptom; increased ICP was revealed by lumbar puncture; head magnetic resonance venography (MRV) showed the filling defects of the venous sinuses which implied CVST. The headache in the two cases was relieved gradually after the anticoagulant therapy. The degree of empty sella was aggravated on the head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images in one case during follow-up; in another case, the empty sella appeared during follow-up. Conclusion: The empty sella can be caused and aggravated by chronic ICP.

Key words

Empty sella syndrome / Sinus thrombosis, intracranial / Chronic intracranial hypertension

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YAO Xiaoying, DAI Ruolian, GUAN Yangtai. Empty sella secondary to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: two case reports and literature review[J]. Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation. 2017, 13(1): 51-57 https://doi.org/10.12022/jnnr.2016-0064

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