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Optic nerve head drusen and pseudotumor cerebri
B Katz1, P Van Patten, J F Rothrock
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
Archives of Neurology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
This case study highlights a patient with pseudotumor cerebri and optic disc drusen, emphasizing diagnostic challenges. Surgical intervention resolved severe headaches, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
Background:
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumor cerebri, presents with increased intracranial pressure.
- Optic disc drusen are calcified deposits within the optic nerve head, which can mimic papilledema.
Observation:
- A 42-year-old woman experienced persistent headaches and visual disturbances.
- Funduscopic examination revealed elevated optic disc margins and bilateral optic nerve head drusen.
- Diagnostic imaging confirmed pseudotumor cerebri coexisting with optic disc drusen.
Findings:
- The patient's headaches were refractory to medical management, including acetazolamide and furosemide.
- Visual loss was confirmed by formal perimetry.
- A lumbar peritoneal shunt was surgically placed.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for diagnostic confusion between pseudotumor cerebri and optic disc drusen.
- Surgical management, such as a lumbar peritoneal shunt, can be effective for refractory headaches in IIH.
- Recognizing the association between these conditions is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.