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Pseudotumor cerebri

Pietro Spennato1, Claudio Ruggiero, Raffaele Stefano Parlato

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Santobono-Paulipon Pediatric Hospital, Via Mario Fiore 6, Naples, Italy. spennato2@libero.it

Child'S Nervous System : Chns : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
|August 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pseudotumor cerebri, or increased intracranial pressure, is an avoidable cause of vision loss in adults and children. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can lead to complete symptom resolution.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Pseudotumor cerebri involves elevated intracranial pressure with normal cerebrospinal fluid and brain imaging.
  • It primarily affects obese women of childbearing age but is increasingly seen in children.
  • Etiology remains unclear, with potential links to venous outflow obstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on pseudotumor cerebri in adults and pre-pubertal children.
  • To highlight diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for managing this condition.

Main Methods:

  • Extensive literature review on pseudotumor cerebri.
  • Analysis of diagnostic criteria and clinical presentations in adults and children.

Main Results:

  • Pseudotumor cerebri is a significant, yet preventable, cause of visual impairment.
  • Diagnosis often requires exclusion of other conditions.
  • Neuroimaging, particularly MRI and MRV, aids in identifying venous outflow obstruction.

Conclusions:

  • Effective diagnostic measures are available for pseudotumor cerebri.
  • Timely intervention using medical, surgical, or endovascular approaches prevents irreversible vision loss.
  • Most patients achieve full recovery without lasting deficits.
Abstract

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