Pseudotumour cerebri in children: etiological, clinical features and treatment modalities

Ultrasound-guided initial diagnosis and follow-up of pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in children often presents with non-specific symptoms found in conditions such as hydrocephalus. For definite diagnosis, invasive intracranial pressure measurement is usually required. Ultrasound (US) of the optic nerve sheath diameter provides a non-invasive method to assess intracranial pressure. Transtemporal US allows imaging of the third ventricle and thus assessment for hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the combination of US optic nerve sheath and third ventricle diameter can be used as a screening tool in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension to indicate elevated intracranial pressure and exclude hydrocephalus as an underlying pathology. Further, to analyze whether both parameters can be used to monitor treatment outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively included 36 children with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and 32 controls. Using a 12-Mhz linear transducer and a 1-4-Mhz phased-array transducer, respectively, optic nerve sheath and third ventricle diameters were determined initially and during the course of treatment.

RESULTS

In patients, the mean optic nerve sheath diameter was significantly larger (6.45±0.65 mm, controls: 4.96±0.32 mm) and the mean third ventricle diameter (1.69±0.65 mm, controls: 2.99±1.31 mm) was significantly smaller compared to the control group, P<0.001. Optimal cut-off values were 5.55 mm for the optic nerve sheath and 1.83 mm for the third ventricle diameter.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined use of US optic nerve sheath and third ventricle diameter is an ideal non-invasive screening tool in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension to indicate elevated intracranial pressure while ruling out hydrocephalus. Treatment can effectively be monitored by repeated US, which also reliably indicates relapse.

Pseudotumor cerebri in the paediatric population: clinical features, treatment and prognosis

INTRODUCTION

Pseudotumor cerebri (PC) in prepubertal patients displays certain characteristics that differentiate it from its presentation at the postpubertal stage. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of paediatric patients diagnosed with PC at our centre and to compare them according to their pubertal status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included patients aged between 1 and 18 years who were diagnosed with PC in a tertiary-level hospital between 2006 and 2019 and who met the updated diagnostic criteria for PC. They were classified according to body weight and pubertal status. Subsequently, we analysed results from lumbar punctures, neuroimaging studies, ophthalmological assessments, and treatments received during follow-up.

RESULTS

We included 28 patients, of whom 22 were of prepubertal age and 6 were of postpubertal age. The mean age (standard deviation) was 9.04 (2.86) years. Among the postpubertal patients, 83.3% were boys, 66.7% of whom presented overweight/obesity. In the group of prepubertal patients, 27% were boys, 31.8% of whom were overweight. The most frequent symptoms were headache (89.9%) and blurred vision (42.9%). All patients presented papilloedema, and 21.4% manifested sixth nerve palsy. Possible triggers were identified in 28.6% of cases. Nineteen percent of patients presented clinical recurrence, all of whom were prepubertal patients. Complete clinical resolution was achieved in 55.6% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Prepubertal patients with PC show lower prevalence of obesity, higher prevalence of secondary aetiologies, and higher recurrence rates than postpubertal patients.

Non-Invasive Quantitative Approximation of Intracranial Pressure in Pediatric Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Based on Point-of-Care Ultrasound of the Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether ultrasound-based optic nerve sheath diameter (US-ONSD) is a reliable measure to follow up children with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). In addition, to analyze the inter- and intra-individual relationships between US-ONSD and intracranial pressure (ICP), and to investigate whether an individualized mathematical regression equation obtained from two paired US-ONSD/ICP values can be used to approximate ICP from US-ONSD values.

METHODS

159 US examinations and 53 invasive ICP measures via lumbar puncture (LP) were performed in 28 children with IIH. US-ONSD was measured using a 12 Mhz linear transducer and compared to ICP values. In 15 children, a minimum of 2 paired US-ONSD/ICP determinations were performed, and repeated-measures correlation (rmcorr) and intra-individual correlations were analyzed.

RESULTS

The cohort correlation between US-ONSD and ICP was moderate (r = 0.504, p < 0.01). Rmcorr (r = 0.91, p < 0.01) and intra-individual correlations (r = 0.956-1) of US-ONSD and ICP were excellent. A mathematical regression equation can be calculated from two paired US-ONSD/ICP values and applied to the individual patient to approximate ICP from US-ONSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Related to excellent intra-individual correlations between US-ONSD and ICP, an individualized regression formula, created from two pairs of US-ONSD/ICP values, may be used to directly approximate ICP based on US-ONSD values. Hence, US-ONSD may become a non-invasive and reliable measure to control treatment efficacy in pediatric IIH.

Concurrent Intracranial Hypertension and Bilateral Optic Neuritis in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involves dysregulation of the immune system, consequently affecting multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, renal, and musculoskeletal systems. Optic neuritis and intracranial hypertension are conditions that rarely occur in SLE, and their coexistence has not been reported to date. Herein, we report the first case of a patient who was diagnosed with SLE complicated by concurrent intracranial hypertension and bilateral optic neuritis. An 11-year-old Thai girl had a low-grade fever, discoid rash, oral ulcer, chronic headache, and fluctuating diplopia. She experienced bilateral vision loss just before presentation. She was diagnosed with juvenile SLE. We believe that her headache, which was probably a symptom of optic disc edema, was due to intracranial hypertension. Furthermore, she exhibited vision loss and color vision deficit and was diagnosed with bilateral optic neuritis. Her condition improved on treatment with corticosteroids (intravenous pulse methylprednisolone for 3 days, followed by 1 mg/kg/day oral prednisolone tapered over 3 months). The occurrence of optic neuritis and intracranial hypertension during an active SLE inflammation and a rapid response to high-dose corticosteroids support the fact that SLE was the etiology of these neuropsychiatric conditions. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment in such cases can lead to favorable outcomes.

A Systematic Review on Whether an Association Exists Between Adolescent Obesity and Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS)/idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a clinical presentation appertaining to signs/symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, like headache and papilledema. It is an uncommon but clinically significant cause of morbidity such as permanent vision loss. It is crucial to understand if idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is on the rise in adolescents, it is probably due to the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. Our study aimed to find an association between obesity and IIH in adolescents. We utilized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2020 (PRISMA) guidelines to run this systematic review. Many publications related to the topic in the discussion were scrutinized through a comprehensive database search. We filtered them down to a final count of 10 articles after utilizing our inclusion/exclusion criteria and assessing the quality of work. In these final papers, we identified several possibilities to explain the link between obesity and IIH in adolescents. Overweight and obese adolescents were found to have a significantly increased risk of IIH development, with a more severe clinical picture seen in morbidly obese female patients.

Infantile idiopathic intracranial hypertension: case report and review of the literature

Background

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is an infrequent condition of childhood, and is extremely rare in infants, with only 26 cases described. The etiology is still unknown. Typical clinical manifestations change with age, and symptoms are atypical in infants, thus the diagnosis could be late. This is based on increased opening pressure at lumbar puncture, papilloedema and normal cerebral MRI. The measurement of cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in infants is an issue because many factors may affect it, and data about normal values are scanty. The mainstay of treatment is acetazolamide, which allows to relieve symptoms and to avoid permanent visual loss if promptly administered.

Case presentation

We report the case of an 8-month-old infant admitted because of vomit, loss of appetite and irritability; later, also bulging anterior fontanel was observed. Cerebral MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis resulted negative and after two lumbar punctures he experienced initial symptom relief. Once the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension was made, he received oral acetazolamide, and corticosteroids, with progressive symptom resolution.

Conclusions

Infantile idiopathic intracranial hypertension is extremely rare, and not well described yet. Bulging anterior fontanel in otherwise healthy infants with normal neuroimaging should be always considered suggestive, but can be a late sign, while irritability and anorexia, especially if associated with vomiting, may represent an early sign. In such cases, lumbar puncture should be always done, hopefully with cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure measurement, which is among coded diagnostic criteria, but whose threshold is controversial in infants. Early diagnosis, timely treatment and strict follow-up help to prevent vision loss or death of affected infants.

Pseudotumor cerebri in the paediatric population: clinical features, treatment and prognosis

INTRODUCTION

Pseudotumor cerebri (PC) in prepubertal patients displays certain characteristics that differentiate it from its presentation at the postpubertal stage. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of paediatric patients diagnosed with PC at our centre and to compare them according to their pubertal status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included patients aged between 1 and 18 years who were diagnosed with PC in a tertiary-level hospital between 2006 and 2019 and who met the updated diagnostic criteria for PC. They were classified according to body weight and pubertal status. Subsequently, we analysed results from lumbar punctures, neuroimaging studies, ophthalmological assessments, and treatments received during follow-up.

RESULTS

We included 28 patients, of whom 22 were of prepubertal age and 6 were of postpubertal age. The mean age (standard deviation) was 9.04 (2.86) years. Among the postpubertal patients, 83.3% were boys, 66.7% of whom presented overweight/obesity. In the group of prepubertal patients, 27% were boys, 31.8% of whom were overweight. The most frequent symptoms were headache (89.9%) and blurred vision (42.9%). All patients presented papilloedema, and 21.4% manifested sixth nerve palsy. Possible triggers were identified in 28.6% of cases. Nineteen percent of patients presented clinical recurrence, all of whom were prepubertal patients. Complete clinical resolution was achieved in 55.6% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Prepubertal patients with PC show lower prevalence of obesity, higher prevalence of secondary aetiologies, and higher recurrence rates than postpubertal patients.

Infantile Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Case Study and Review of the Literature

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or pseudotumor cerebri, is an increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure of unknown etiology. It is mostly seen in adults, less frequently in adolescents, rarely in younger children. Only 5 infants meeting idiopathic intracranial hypertension criteria have been mentioned in the literature. We report a case of a previously healthy 9-month-old boy who presented with irritability, decreased appetite, and a bulging fontanelle. Computed tomography (CT) head imaging and cerebrospinal fluid studies revealed normal results. The patient's symptoms transiently resolved after the initial lumbar puncture, but 11 days later, his fontanelle bulged again. A second lumbar puncture revealed an elevated opening pressure of 35 cmH₂O and led to a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in accordance with the modified Dandy Criteria. Treatment with acetazolamide at a dose of 25 mg/kg/d was initiated and the patient remained symptom-free for 6 weeks, followed by another relapse. His acetazolamide dose was increased to 37 mg/kg/d, with no further relapses to date. A diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is challenging in infants, because the patients cannot yet verbalize typical idiopathic intracranial hypertension-related symptoms such as positional headaches, diplopia, or pulsatile tinnitus. Furthermore, it is more difficult to assess papilledema in that age group. If undetected and untreated, idiopathic intracranial hypertension may result in permanent visual deficits. Little is known about idiopathic intracranial hypertension in infants, and age-specific treatment guidelines are lacking. We discuss this rare case of infantile idiopathic intracranial hypertension and provide a review of the literature, including an overview of disease characteristics and outcomes of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in this very young age group.

Pseudotumor cerebri in childhood and adolescence: data from a specialized service

ABSTRACT Objective: To report cases of children and adolescents diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri associated or not with rheumatic disease. Methods: This was a retrospective study based on medical reports of 29 patients, up to 18 years of age and diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, followed up in the Pediatric Rheumatology and Neurology outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital, until December 2016. Results: Among the 29 patients diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, 51.7% were girls and the mean age at the disease onset was 12.3 years. In 18 patients (62%) where an etiology was found, four were associated with a rheumatic disease. The most common symptom was headache (69%) and acetazolamide was the most used medication (69%). Two patients developed blindness and 10 are still being followed up. Conclusion: Although rare, pseudotumor cerebri should be considered in children with headaches, especially in patients with rheumatic disease.

Evidence of Diplopia in Children's Headache Drawings Helps to Differentiate Pseudotumor Cerebri From Migraine

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether children's headache drawings can distinguish between pseudotumor cerebri and migraine.

BACKGROUND

Headache features associated with pseudotumor cerebri (pseudotumor; idiopathic intracranial hypertension) are nonspecific and are difficult to distinguish clinically from migraines. Children's headache drawings have a high predictive value for migraine versus nonmigraine headaches. We hypothesized that drawings could help to differentiate pediatric headaches due to pseudotumor cerebri from those associated with migraines.

METHODS

Children aged six to 18 years old attending university hospital pediatric neurology clinics were asked to draw a picture of how their headache feels. From our database of children's headache drawings, pictures by children with clinically diagnosed pseudotumor were compared with migraine drawings.

RESULTS

Headache drawings of 21 children (16 females) with pseudotumor were compared with those of 518 children with migraine. Pseudotumor drawings depicted a variety of symptoms including pounding pain (n = 11), pressure-like pain (n = 3), photophobia (3), dizziness (1), and recumbency (1). Severe pain indicators included hammers, bombs, anvil, and vise grip. Positive visual phenomena included scintillations, scotomata, or blurring (n = 8). Negative visual phenomena included field defects (n = 2). Pseudotumor drawings were similar to migraine drawings except that 6 of 21 pseudotumor drawings (28.6%) depicted diplopia (crossed eyes, double images), whereas only three of 518 migraine drawings (0.6%) depicted diplopia (P < 0.000001).

CONCLUSIONS

Diplopia was depicted in a significantly higher percentage of pseudotumor drawings than migraine drawings. In all other respects, headache drawings by children with pseudotumor cerebri were similar to those drawn by children with migraine.

Pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension - Is the fixed threshold value of elevated LP opening pressure set too high?

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in children is a rare condition of unknown etiology and various clinical presentations. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if our pediatric IIH study group fulfilled the revised diagnostic criteria for IIH published in 2013, particularly with regard to clinical presentation and threshold value of an elevated lumbar puncture opening pressure. Additionally we investigated the potential utilization of MR-based and fundoscopic methods of estimating intracranial pressure for improved diagnosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical data were collected retrospectively from twelve pediatric patients diagnosed with IIH between 2008 and 2012 and revised diagnostic criteria were applied. Comparison with non-invasive methods for measuring intracranial pressure, MRI-based measurement (MR-ICP) and venous ophthalmodynamometry was performed.

RESULTS

Only four of the twelve children (33%) fulfilled the revised diagnostic criteria for a definite diagnosis of IIH. Regarding noninvasive methods, MR-ICP (n = 6) showed a significantly higher mean of intracranial pressure compared to a healthy age- and sex-matched control group (p = 0.0043). Venous ophthalmodynamometry (n = 4) showed comparable results to invasive lumbar puncture.

CONCLUSION

The revised diagnostic criteria for IIH may be too strict especially in children without papilledema. MR-ICP and venous ophthalmodynamometry are promising complementary procedures for monitoring disease progression and response to treatment.

Pseudotumor Cerebri as the First Manifestation of Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Introduction

Headache is a common neuropsychiatric manifestation of juvenile systemic lupus erythematous (JSLE). Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is an uncommon cause of headache, presenting especially in active JSLE. In this paper, we report a case of missed intractable headache that was eventually diagnosed as PTC and presented as the first manifestation of JSLE.

Case Presentation

A 9-year-old girl with a history of progressive headache for four months, fever, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, small-joint arthritis of the hands, and recent diplopia was referred to our clinic. The diagnosis of PTC in the background of JSLE was made based on her history, physical examination, positive laboratory findings, and increased intracranial pressure, with normal neuroimaging. Treatment with high-dose prednisolone led to dramatic resolution of the headache.

Conclusions

It seems that a complete neurologic examination in newly diagnosed SLE patients is mandatory, especially in the presence of any neuropsychiatric manifestations, such as headache.

Prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and associated factors in obese children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is one of the most important and rare complications of obesity. Prevalence of IIH in childhood obesity is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IIH in obese children and adolescents and to investigate the relevant factors.

METHODS

In this study, 1058 obese children and adolescents between 2 and 18 years of age were included. Funduscopic examination was conducted for all subjects. In cases with papilledema, increase in intracranial pressure was clarified by measuring CSF pressure with a lumbar puncture. Other causes of IIH were ruled out with clinical, laboratory tests and imaging techniques.

RESULTS

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension was diagnosed in 14 subjects (1.32%). Rates of headache and systemic hypertension in subjects with IIH was determined to be 78.6% and 28.6%, respectively. Morning cortisol, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR values were found to be significantly higher in this cases (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In childhood obesity, IIH should be kept in mind as a serious complication. Funduscopic examination is an easy method that suggests IIH. In particular, obese children with systemic hypertension and refractory headache should be considered for IIH.

Intracranial Hypertension in Children: Etiologies, Clinical Features, and Outcome

This retrospective study aimed to describe the clinical presentations, possible causes, and outcomes of children with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who presented to the authors' clinic. The mean age at onset of symptoms in the authors' cohort of 19 children was 6 years (range: 7 months to 12 years). Most patients (90%) were under 11 years old and (84.2%) symptomatic. The probable cause was identified in 7/19 (37.0%) patients. The most common cause was vitamin D deficiency (26.3%). Other associated probably coincidental comorbidities included sinusitis (5/19, 26.3%), hypophosphatasia (1/19), Pyle disease (1/19), and measles vaccine (1/19). Apart from 2 patients who required lumboperitoneal shunt, the cerebrospinal fluid pressure returned to normal in all patients within a period of 6 weeks to 1 year (average, 5 months). Of those who followed up with the authors' ophthalmologist, 30.7% developed optic atrophy or pallor; 75% of these patients had previous ocular comorbidities.

Intracranial hypotension and hypertension in children and adolescents

The specific aim of this review is to report the features of intracranial pressure changes [spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)] in children and adolescents, with emphasis on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment modalities. Headache associated with intracranial pressure changes are relatively rare and less known in children and adolescents. SIH is a specific syndrome involving reduced intracranial pressure with orthostatic headache, frequently encountered connective tissue disorders, and a good prognosis with medical management, initial epidural blood patching, and sometimes further interventions may be required. IIH is an uncommon condition in children and different from the disease in adults, not only with respect to clinical features (likely to present with strabismus and stiff neck rather than headache or pulsatile tinnitus) but also different in outcome. Consequently, specific ICP changes of pediatric ages required specific attention both of exact diagnosis and entire management.

Viral-induced intracranial hypertension mimicking pseudotumor cerebri

BACKGROUND

Pseudotumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension is characterized by normal spinal fluid composition and increased intracranial pressure in the absence of a space-occupying lesion.

METHODS

This study describes a subgroup of 10 patients with the same typical presenting symptoms (headache, vomiting, and papilledema) but without nuchal rigidity, meningeal signs, or change in mental status. Patients had normal neuroimaging studies and intracranial hypertension but also pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting central nervous system infection. From the results it can be hypothesized that those children represent a unique subgroup of viral-induced intracranial hypertension when comparing their risk factors, clinical course, treatment, and outcome with 58 patients who had idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

RESULTS

All patients with viral-induced intracranial hypertension presented with papilledema but none had reduced visual acuity or abnormal visual fields, compared with 20.7% of patients who had idiopathic intracranial hypertension. They also responded better to treatment with acetazolamide, needed a shorter duration of treatment (7.7 ± 2.6 months vs 12.2 ± 6.3 months, P = 0.03), and had no recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that children who fulfill the typical presenting signs and symptoms and all diagnostic criteria for pseudotumor cerebri other than the normal cerebrospinal fluid component may represent a unique subgroup of viral-induced intracranial hypertension and should be managed accordingly. The overall prognosis is excellent.

Clinical spectrum of the pseudotumor cerebri in children: etiological, clinical features, treatment and prognosis

OBJECTIVE

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a clinical condition characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, such as headache and papilledema. Our aim was to investigate the etiological and clinical features of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) in children.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

We performed a comprehensive analysis of epidemiology, diagnostic work-up, therapy, and clinical follow-up in 42 consecutive patients.

RESULTS

Totally 42 patients diagnosed with PTC [27 (64.3%) females and 15 (35.7%) males] were included in the study. The average age of the symptoms onset was 10.79±3.43 years (range from 12 months to 17 years). Obesity was found in eleven (26.2%) of them. Two of the patients had familial mediterranean fever, two of them had posttraumatic PTC. The following diseases were one patient, respectively; mycophenolate mofetil-induced PTC, hypervitaminosis A induced PTC, corticosteroid induced withdrawal due to nephritic syndrome, use of oral contraceptives, Guillain-Barre syndrome, urinary tract infection, varicella-zoster virus infection and dural venous sinus thrombosis associated with otitis media. The most common symptom was headache, recorded in 76.2% of the patients. All patients were treated medically. Three patients in our group also required a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

CONCLUSION

Pseudotumor cerebri is an avoidable cause of visual loss, both in adults and children. Pre-pubertal obese girls are more common. Medical therapy appeared to be successful in treating pediatric PTC in most patients. Nevertheless, despite adequate treatment, children can rarely experience loss of visual field and acuity; thus, prompt diagnosis and management are important.