Enlarged sella turcica (differential)

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Enlargement of sella turcica can be seen in situations including the following:

  • empty sella syndrome
    • slight globular enlargement of the sella with no erosion, destruction or posterior displacement of dorsum sellae
  • intracranial hypertension
    • enlargement with erosion of anterior cortex of dorsum sellae proceeds to the floor of the sella and may result in complete destruction of the dorsum; erosion of anterior and posterior clinoids can be seen
  • pituitary tumors (e.g. macroadenoma)
    • ballooned sella with an undercutting anterior clinoid process, unequal downward displacement of the floor (double floor appearance)
  • craniopharyngioma
    • elongated sella with short curved dorsum is characteristic, but more often indistinguishable from the pituitary lesions
  • Rathke's cleft cyst: rarely can cause sellar enlargement if reaches large size