National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Empty sella syndrome


Other Names:
Empty sella turcica
Categories:
Empty sella syndrome (ESS) is a condition that involves the sella turcica, a bony structure at the base of the brain that protects the pituitary gland.[1] There is a primary and secondary form of the condition. The primary form occurs when a structural defect above the pituitary gland increases pressure in the sella turcica and causes the gland to flatten. The secondary form occurs when the pituitary gland is damaged due to injury, a tumor, surgery or radiation therapy.[1][2] Some people with ESS have no symptoms.[2] People with secondary ESS may have symptoms of decreased pituitary function such as absence of menstruation, infertility, fatigue, and intolerance to stress and infection. In children, ESS may be associated with early onset of puberty, growth hormone deficiency, pituitary tumors, or pituitary gland dysfunction. Treatment focuses on the symptoms present in each person.[1]
Last updated: 7/14/2014
Empty sella syndrome (ESS) is typically not inherited. We are aware of one report of familial ESS, occurring in a father and two children.[3] Some researchers believe that a defect present at birth may play a role in the development of the condition, but are unsure whether the defect directly causes ESS or is only a predisposing factor.[4]
Last updated: 6/23/2014
Empty sella syndrome (ESS) is not a life-threatening illness.[1] In most cases, especially in people with primary ESS, there are no symptoms and it does not affect life expectancy.[4][2] ESS is often found incidentally on an X-ray when people are being evaluated for other reasons. Therefore, many people with ESS are probably never diagnosed. Some researchers have estimated that less than 1% of affected people ever develop symptoms of the condition.[4]

People with normal pituitary function usually do not need any treatment. Some people (particularly those with secondary ESS) may need hormone replacement therapy. In a few cases, surgery may be needed to repair the sella turcica.[2]

If a person has ESS that is associated with an underlying condition, the long-term outlook (prognosis) may depend on that of the specific condition present.
Last updated: 6/23/2014

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • The Merck Manual for health care professionals provides information on Empty sella syndrome.
  • MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Empty sella syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • Is this hereditary? My daughter was diagnosed at age 4 with empty sella and I'd like to know if having this for life will affect her later. See answer

  • What is empty sella syndrome? What are the unusual facial features associated with the syndrome? See answer


  1. Empty Sella Syndrome Information Page. NINDS. November 21, 2013; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/emptysella/emptysella.htm.
  2. Empty sella syndrome. MedlinePlus. November 7, 2013; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000349.htm.
  3. Colliot S, Heim M, Vincentelli JM, Jaquet P, Simonin R. [Familial primary empty sella turcica. Apropos of a family with 3 cases]. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 1990; 51(1):39-42. Accessed 6/23/2014.
  4. Empty Sella Syndrome. NORD. February 7, 2013; http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/635/viewAbstract.