[Correlation between ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter and intracranial pressure]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is crucial for managing neurological conditions.
• Traditional ICP measurement via lumbar puncture is invasive and carries risks.
• Non-invasive methods for ICP assessment are highly desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and ICP.
• To determine the feasibility of using ultrasonographic ONSD to predict high ICP.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 130 outpatients scheduled for lumbar puncture.
• Ultrasonographic measurement of retrobulbar ONSD was performed before lumbar puncture.
• Pearson correlation, t-tests, and ROC curve analysis were used to assess ONSD-ICP correlation and predictive value.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was found between ICP and ONSD measurements (r=0.60, P<0.001).
• The high ICP group exhibited significantly enlarged ONSD compared to the normal ICP group (P<0.001).
• An ONSD cutoff value of 5.6 mm demonstrated 86% sensitivity and 71% specificity for identifying high ICP.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasonographic ONSD is a reliable indicator of elevated ICP.
• This non-invasive technique offers a feasible alternative for predicting high ICP, especially in high-risk patients.
• While valuable, ultrasonographic ONSD cannot replace direct invasive ICP measurement.