What is empty sella syndrome?

The pituitary gland is a small gland located at the base of the brain in a space called 'sella turcica'. When the pituitary gland shrinks or flattens due to filling with spinal fluid it gives the appearance of being empty. This is referred to as empty sella syndrome.

How do members experience empty sella syndrome?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with empty sella syndrome*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for empty sella syndrome*

Who has empty sella syndrome on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 3
30s 12
40s 45
50s 49
60s 26
70+ 9

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 19
Female 125

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as co-founder Jamie Heywood explains in this video.

What is empty sella syndrome?

The pituitary gland is a small gland located at the base of the brain in a space called 'sella turcica'. When the pituitary gland shrinks or flattens due to filling with spinal fluid it gives the appearance of being empty. This is referred to as empty sella syndrome.



Common symptoms reported by people with empty sella syndrome

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for empty sella syndrome

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have empty sella syndrome through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with empty sella syndrome? Members in the forum might have the answers.


Compare treatments taken by people with empty sella syndrome

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have empty sella syndrome through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with empty sella syndrome? Members in the forum might have the answers.



Who has empty sella syndrome on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 0 new patients joined this month
  • 92 say empty sella syndrome is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 3
30s 12
40s 45
50s 49
60s 26
70+ 9
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 6
20-29 years 6
30-39 years 7
40-49 years 11
50-59 years 3
60-69 years 1
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 19
Female 125

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 46
Not Diagnosed 2

These charts show data from empty sella syndrome patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: