Pseudotumor Cerebri (PTC), A/K/A Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)

 


Pseudotumor Cerebri (PTC), also known as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), is a condition characterized by increased intracranial pressure without a detectable tumor or other cause.

Symptoms: 1. Headaches (severe, frequent) 2. Vision changes (double vision, blurred vision) 3. Tinnitus (ringing in ears) 4. Hearing loss 5. Dizziness 6. Nausea and vomiting 7. Papilledema (swelling of optic disc)

Causes and risk factors: 1. Obesity 2. Female gender (especially childbearing age) 3. Hormonal changes 4. Certain medications (e.g., tetracyclines, vitamin A derivatives) 5. Sleep apnea 6. Head trauma

Diagnosis: 1. Lumbar puncture (LP) to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure 2. Imaging studies (MRI, CT scans) to rule out other causes 3. MR venogram or CT venogram of the head can be done to rule out a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is done to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid unless something is seen on the MRI or CT scan indicating a spinal tap is not safe procedure.

4. Optic Nerve evaluation for papilledema

Treatment: 1. Weight loss and lifestyle modifications 2. Medications: - Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide) - Corticosteroids - Diuretics 3. Lumbar punctures (therapeutic) 4. Shunting procedures (in severe cases)

Complications: 1. Vision loss 2. Hearing loss 3. Chronic headaches 4. Cognitive impairment 5. Depression and anxiety

Monitoring: 1. Regular Eye exams 2. Imaging studies 3. LP to assess CSF pressure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPJxGkF6JeU

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chiari Malformation

Image
Chiari malformation is a neurological condition where the brain's cerebellum extends into the spinal canal, putting pressure on the brain and spine. Here is an overview: Types: 1. Chiari I: Most common, cerebellum extends into spinal canal 2. Chiari II: More severe, brain stem and cerebellum extend into spinal canal 3. Chiari III: Rare, cerebellum and brain stem extend through an opening in the skull 4. Chiari IV: Rare, cerebellum doesn't develop properly.   Symptoms: 1. Headaches 2. Neck pain 3. Dizziness or balance problems 4. Numbness or tingling in hands and feet 5. Vision problems 6. Hearing loss 7. Swallowing difficulties 8. Fatigue Causes: 1. Congenital (present at birth) 2. Genetic mutations 3. Spinal injury or trauma 4. Infections like meningitis 5. Tumors or cysts   Treatment: 1. Surgery to relieve pressure and decompress the spinal cord 2. Posterior fossa decompression 3. Duraplasty (expanding the dura mater) 4. Laminectomy (removing part of the vertebra) 5. Physical
Read more

Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Image
  The definition of pulmonary vascular disease is simply: any condition that affects the   blood   vessels along the route between the   heart   and   lungs . Blood travels from the  heart , to the lungs, and back to the heart. This process continually refills the blood with oxygen, and allows carbon dioxide be exhaled. Here's how the process works: Oxygen-poor blood returns from the body's tissues through the veins back to the right side of the heart. The right heart pumps oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary  arteries  into the lungs. This blood becomes filled with oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs back to the left side of the heart. The left heart pumps the oxygen-rich blood into the body through the  aorta  and many other arteries. Any part of the heart-lung blood circuit can become damaged or blocked, leading to pulmonary vascular disease. Causes of Pulmonary Vascular Disease The causes of pulmonary vascular disease vary according to which of the lung
Read more