What does it mean if the sphenoid bone has fluid in it?

Question

My husband had an MRI and it showed the sphenoid bone half full of fluid. What could cause this and what does it mean? He also has hypogonadism.

Answer 1

The sphenoid sinuses are nearly in the center of the skull. These sinuses are often partially filled with fluid (mucous) and are at risk for sinus infection. Sometimes they are filled with blood from a basilar skull fracture. In the absence of trauma (injury,  I would not be very concerned.

Old Doc

P.S. What they would be evaluating with the MRI for hypogonadism is the pituitary gland which is in  a space called the "sella". Or the portion of the brain directly above that called the "hypothalamus". The concerning factors involving the MRI would be words like "empty sella", or "suprasellar"/ "infrasellar extension".

The ethmoid sinuses are not typically involved with pituitary problems.