CONTINUING GROWTH IN SELLA TURCICA WITH AGE

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Abstract
Roentgenographic evidence now exists for continuing increase in the area of sella turcica as the individual ages. This "adult fossa growth" occurs in both sexes although it is of greater magnitude among males. The sample evaluated here indicates that sella size in younger adult men and women is almost the same, while the greater magnitude of gain in men results in a true size-sexual dimorphism in later life. This point may be responsible for the disparity in findings among previous investigators on the question of sex differences in adult sella size. At present, sella can be considered a participant in the process of later life skeletal remodeling known to occur in other areas such as skull, rib, femur, anti metacarpal, although the unusual relationship between fossa and pituitary gland may speak for an entirely different mechanism. Sella could be responding to space demands brought about by quantitative changes in its contents, but until further evidence is made available there is no way to know if sella size and gland size follow a parallel course as an individual ages. The continuing gain in sella leaves the possibility that the ever increasing available area is not utilized by parenchyma, and therefore pituitary gland morphology is less and less reflected by the bony outlines of the fossa.

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