What is effacement of the suprasellar cistern?
The initial displacement of the uncus results in effacement of the suprasellar cistern, the earliest finding in this type of hernia. Often, that is all it effaces. As the herniation progresses, there is widening of the ipsilateral perimesencephalic cistern, with displacement and rotation of the brainstem (Figs 9, 10).
What does the suprasellar cistern contain?
The suprasellar cistern (also known as pentagon of basal cisterns) is a cerebrospinal-fluid filled space located above the sella turcica, under the hypothalamus. It contains the optic chiasm, the infundibulum and the circle of Willis.
What part of the brain is the suprasellar cistern?
The suprasellar cistern is located above the sella turcica, under the hypothalamus and between the uncus of the temporal lobes. It has roughly the shape of a pentagon at the level of the optic chiasma, and of a six-point star at the level of cerebral peduncles.
What is the cistern of the brain?
The subarachnoid cisterns are spaces formed by openings in the subarachnoid space, an anatomic space in the meninges of the brain. The space is situated between the two meninges, the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. These cisterns are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
What is cistern effacement?
Effacement of the basal cisterns As well as causing mass effect from one side to the other, an intracranial lesion may cause mass effect downwards into the posterior fossa. This may manifest as effacement of the basal cisterns.
What does Suprasellar mean?
Medical Definition of suprasellar : situated or rising above the sella turcica —used chiefly of tumors of the pituitary gland.
What is Suprasellar Lipoma?
Suprasellar cistern lipomas are uncommon, usually incidental findings, with characteristic imaging features and very limited differential diagnosis. A proportion of these lesions can peripherally ossify, in which case they are referred to as osteolipomas 4.
Where is a Suprasellar mass?
Suprasellar meningiomas tend to affect middle-aged men and women, account for about 10 percent of all meningiomas, and occur near the pituitary gland and optic nerves at the skull base. These slow-growing tumors can cause severe visual impairment in one or both eyes if they press directly on the optic nerves.
What is the purpose of subarachnoid cisterns?
It provides the brain with nutrients, allows for solute exchange, and provides basic mechanical and functional support to the organ. There are areas where the CSF will accumulate due to spaces between the two innermost brain layers (meninges). These areas are known as the subarachnoid cisterns.
How do cisterns work?
Roof-catchment cisterns are systems used to collect and store rainwater for household and other uses. A system of gutters and downspouts directs the rainwater collected by the roof to the storage cistern. The cistern supplies water to the household through a standard pressurized plumbing system.
What causes effacement of basal cisterns?
What does effacement of the sulci mean?
Sulcal effacement is a local secondary sign of mass effect in the cranium. Any lesion exerting mass effect on brain parenchyma can push adjacent gyri together, thereby displacing the CSF from the sulci.
What is the suprasellar cistern?
The suprasellar cistern is an expansion of the subarchnoid space above the sella turcica, and above the pituitary fossa. Superiorly it is bounded by the anterior aspect of the third ventricle and inferiorly by the diaphragma sellae.
How does a suprasellar cistern mass lesion affect the endocrine system?
This is why any mass lesion present in the suprasellar cistern can have profound effects on the endocrine system. The optic chiasm can also be compressed resulting in compromise of peripheral vision.
What is the treatment for suprasellar cistern lesion?
Individuals who develop visual field compromise and/or peripheral field defects should be suspected of having a lesion in the suprasellar cistern. Treatment depends upon the underlying cause but often requires surgical decompression.
What is a suprasellar mass?
Suprasellar masses are neoplastic, vascular, congenital, or infectious/inflammatory in origin. Suprasellar masses present with a variety of neurologic or endocrine dysfunctions depending on their site of origin and mass effect on adjacent structures.