EMPTY SELLA SYNDROME FOLLOWING CRANIAL TRAUMA IN A DOG

Authors

  • Claudia Espina Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Clínica Médica de Pequeños Animales. Avenida Chorroarín 280, CP 1427, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Lucila Gomez Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Clínica Médica de Pequeños Animales. Avenida Chorroarín 280, CP 1427, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Victor Castillo * Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Clínica Médica de Pequeños Animales. Avenida Chorroarín 280, CP 1427, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, vcastill@fvet.uba.ar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26873/SVR-2208-2025

Keywords:

pituitary insuficiencia, dog, magnetic resonance imaging, empty sella, cranial trauma

Abstract

This report describes a case of empty sella syndrome in a 6-month-old male dog that experienced cranial trauma 4 months prior. Clinical signs included behavioural disturbances such as aggression and growth retardation. Clinical examinations, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the absence of the pituitary gland in the sella turcica and possible pituitary insufficiency indicated by decreased IGF-1 levels with TSH below the detection limit of the assay. The dog subsequently developed polyuria and intense polydipsia, raising suspicion of central diabetes insipidus. Persistent aggression led the owners to opt for euthanasia. In humans, empty sella syndrome has been associated with hormonal alterations, although it may be asymptomatic. This report underscores the importance of evaluating brain structures via MRI following cranial trauma and paying attention to the functionality of the endocrine system.

Sindrom praznega turškega sedla po poškodbi lobanje pri psu

Izvleček: Poročilo opisuje primer sindroma praznega turškega sedla pri 6-mesečnem psu, ki je 4 mesece prej utrpel poškodbo lobanje. Klinični znaki so vključevali vedenjske motnje, kot sta agresivnost in upočasnjena rast. Klinični pregledi, laboratorijske preiskave in magnetna resonanca (MR) so pokazali odsotnost hipofize v turškem sedlu in možno insuficienco hipofize, na kar je kazalo zmanjšanje ravni IGF-1 s TSH pod mejo zaznavnosti testa. Pes je nato razvil poliurijo in intenzivno polidipsijo, kar je vzbudilo sum na centralni diabetes insipidus. Zaradi trajajoče agresivnosti so se lastniki odločili za evtanazijo. Pri ljudeh je sindroma praz-nega turškega sedla povezan s hormonskimi spremembami, čeprav lahko poteka brez simptomov. Poročilo poudarja pomemb-nost ocenjevanja možganskih struktur z MR po poškodbi lobanje in pozornosti, ki jo je treba posvetiti delovanju endokrinega sistema.

Ključne besede: hipofizna insuficienca; pes; magnetna resonanca; prazno turško sedlo; poškodba lobanje

References

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Espina, C., Gomez, L., & Castillo, V. (2025). EMPTY SELLA SYNDROME FOLLOWING CRANIAL TRAUMA IN A DOG. Slovenian Veterinary Research, 62(4), 285–8. https://doi.org/10.26873/SVR-2208-2025

Issue

Section

Case Report