Pseudotumor cerebri

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Pseudotumor cerebri

Definition:

Pseudotumor cerebri is a reversible process affecting the brain that appears to be -- but is not -- a tumor. The major symptom is increased pressure within the skull (increased intracranial pressure). There is no evidence of tumor, infection, blocked drainage of the fluid surrounding the brain, or any other cause.

Alternative Names:

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension; Benign intracranial hypertension

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause for the condition is unknown.

The following factors increase the risk:

Obesity
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, isotretinoin, tamoxifen, naladixic acid, lithium, and the starting or stopping of steroids
Vitamin A (too much or too little)
Cushing’s disease
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Chronic renal failure
Anemia

The condition occurs more frequently in women than men, particularly in pre-menopausal obese women. It is rare in infants.

The diagnosis is made when other health conditions are ruled out. Several conditions may cause increased intracranial pressure, including venous sinus thrombosis, hydrocephalus, an intracranial mass (such as a tumor), and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Review Date: 2/8/2005
Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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