A sellar spine is a rare spur of bone that may compress the pituitary gland.
Location: midline, arising from the dorsum sellae, projecting anteriorly into the pituitary
Dimension: usually about 4-5 mm in length
It can result in deformity of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
Origin: remnant of the notochord, due to incomplete regression of the cephalic end
It is a congenital malformation that should be detectable at birth.
If it contains bone marrow then it may appear as a T1 signal hyperintensity.
It may be asymptomatic or it may be associated with:
(1) headache
(2) blurred vision
(3) hypopituitarism
(4) galactorrhea
Symptoms may first appear after puberty since there is enlargement of the pituitary gland during puberty.
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Specialty: Endocrinology, Neurology
