Pseudotumor cerebri

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Central nervous system

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension; Benign intracranial hypertension

Treatment must be directed at the specific cause of the pseudotumor.

A lumbar puncture can help relieve pressure within the brain and prevent vision problems.

Other treatments may include:

• Fluid or salt restrictions
• Medications such as corticosteroids, glycerol, acetazolamide, and furosemide
• Shunting procedures to relieve pressure due to spinal fluid retention
• Surgery to relieve pressure on the optic nerve
• Weight loss

The patient will need their vision closely monitored, since there is potential for progressive and sometimes permanent visual loss. Follow-up MRI or CT scans may be done to rule out hidden cancer.

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Sometimes the condition disappears on its own within 6 months. About 10-20% of persons have their symptoms return. A small number of patients have symptoms that slowly get worse and lead to blindness.

Vision loss is a serious complication of this condition.

Call your health care provider if you or your child experience the symptoms listed above.

Review Date: 03/26/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).