Empty sella developing during thyroxine therapy in a patient with primary hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinaemia

• Published in: Postgraduate medical journal Vol. 68; no. 801; pp. 589 - 591
• Main Authors: Kelestimur, F., Selçuklu, A., Ozcan, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine 01.07.1992; BMJ; Oxford University Press; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Empty Sella Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Empty Sella Syndrome - etiology; Female; Humans; Hyperprolactinemia - complications; Hypothyroidism - complications; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...); Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pituitary Gland - diagnostic imaging; Thyroxine - adverse effects; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Endocrinopathy; Case study; Human; Treatment; Toxicity; Hyperprolactinemia; Female; Thyroid hormone; Empty sella syndrome; Hypothyroidism
• ISSN: 0032-5473; 1469-0756
• DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.68.801.589

A 35 year old woman presented with severe primary hypothyroidism and galactorrhea. A very high prolactin level was also detected and computerized tomography scan of the sellar region demonstrated an enlarged pituitary gland associated with contrast enhancement. Replacement therapy with thyroxine corrected both biochemical and clinical abnormalities but empty sella developed during this therapy. It is concluded that empty sella may be related to thyroxine-induced shrinkage of lactotroph and/or thyrotroph cell hyperplasia.