Learning objectives
The purpose of this educational exhibit is to:
Learn about possible imaging findings in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and to highlight the necessity of correlating those findings with clinical symptoms and the results of other diagnostic procedures.
Explain the role of neuroimaging in the exclusion of the IIH in case when some identifiable causes of raised intracranial pressure are found.
Background
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (also known as pseudotumor cerebri and benign intracranial hypertension) is a disorder of increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure of unknown cause.
Previously it was commonly known as pseudotumor cerebri because of common clinical signs of intracranial hypertension without tumoral causes.
The overall incidence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is approximately between 2 and 19 per 100,000.
It mostly occurs in young women in childbearing age who are obese (with a body mass index above 25).
Pathogenesis and etiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension
The...
Findings and procedure details
Brain MR (magnetic resonance) is considered to be the best imaging tool in IIH.
When MR is not available,
a contrast-enhanced CT (computer tomography) scan should be sought.
The preferred imaging is brain MR with T2 coronal images and fat-sat (FS) images of orbit accompanied by MRV (magnetic resonance venography).
It is very important to understand the main roles of neuroimaging:
to exclude other pathologies causing intracranial hypertension
if possible,
to detect findings associated with IIH.
The cause of raised ICP in IIH is unknown...
Conclusion
When IIH is suspected,
neuroimaging can help confirm the diagnosis and distinguish it from other conditions such as venous thrombosis and brain masses.
References
Chagot C et al.,
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Prognostic Factors and Multidisciplinary Management,
Journal of Obesity,
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2017,
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1,
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Qiu MJ et al.,
Dural Venous Sinus Angioplasty and Stenting for Treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension,
Chinese Medical Journal,
vol.
130,
no.
7,
2017,
pp.
879-880.
Sivasankar R et al.,
Imaging and interventions in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A pictorial essay,
Indian Journal of Radiology and Images,
vol.
25,
no.
4,
2017,
pp.
439-444.
Maralani PJ et al.,
Accuracy of Brain Imaging in The Diagnosis of...