Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach

Noticable Findings in Cranial MRI of the Patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by increased intracranial pressure. We investigated the optic nerve, Meckel's cavity, internal carotid artery (ICA) and pituitary findings of IIH by Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Cranial MRI images of 35 adult patients with IIH and 35 adult subjects with normal cranial MRI results (control) were evaluated. Optic nerve diameter (OND), optic nerve sheat diameter (ONSD), OND/ONSD ratio, ON tortuosity, ON protrusion, posterior scleral flattening, ICA transverse diameter, CSF distance in Meckel's cavity and ICA transverse diameter/CSF distance in Meckel's cavity ratio, and pituitary gland measurements (height and transverse dimension; and Optic chiasm- pituitary gland distance) were measured.

RESULTS

OND and ONSD of the IIH group were significantly higher than those of the control groups at anterior and posterior measurements (p < 0.05). OND/ONSD ratio of the IIH group was lower at anterior measurement; and higher at the posterior measurement than the control group (p < 0.05). Right ICA transverse diameter and bilateral CSF distance in Meckel's cavity of the IIH group were higher than those of the control. Optic chiasm- pituitary gland distance of the IIH group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

OND/ONSD ratio is different in anterior and posterior measurements. So we recommend measuring OND and ONSD separately in IIH patients to use in the clinical practice. Similarly, optic chiasm-pituitary gland distance is also another point to note for IIH patients on MRI. Our paper adds new approach to IIH in terms of OND/ONSD ratio.

Management of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Experience of a North African Center

Background The idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) in the absence of intracerebral space occupation or venous sinus thrombosis. It usually occurs in obese young women but is very rare in childhood.

Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective study in the neurosurgical department of Bab El Oued teaching hospital of Algiers over a period of 8 years from January 2008 to December 2015. We analyzed clinical data of 10 patients with IIH diagnosis, and the surgical technique consisted of an insertion of a lumbo-peritoneal shunt.

Results In our study, 80% were women with sex ratio M/F of 0.25; the mean age was 32 years and 60% of our patients were obese. For most of our patients, the postoperative outcome was marked by the disappearance of the headache immediately, disappearance of strabismus and diplopia in the following week, followed by improvement of visual function.

Conclusion The IIH is predominantly a disease of women in the childbearing age; surgical treatment is a good option for patients who resisted medication or did not tolerate it as well as for ICH fulminous in emergency cases.