What is the treatment of symptomatic empty sella syndrome?

The treatment of symptomatic Empty Sella Syndrome includes:

1. Medical Treatment:

- Hormone Replacement Therapy: If hypopituitarism (deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones) is present, patients may require hormone replacement therapy with medications such as hydrocortisone (for ACTH deficiency), thyroid hormone (for TSH deficiency), estrogen or testosterone (for gonadotropin deficiency), and others as needed.

- Medications for Headache Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, may be recommended to manage headaches. In some cases, stronger pain medications or medications specifically for migraine headaches may be necessary.

2. Surgery:

- Transsphenoidal Surgery: Transnasal transsphenoidal surgery may be considered if medical treatment does not relieve symptoms and the empty sella is causing significant compression of the optic chiasm (the structure where the optic nerves cross in the brain). Surgery can relieve pressure on the optic chiasm and improve visual function.

- Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery: Endoscopic endonasal surgery uses a narrow endoscope inserted into the nose to reach the sella and address lesions such as cysts or tumors that may be contributing to symptoms.