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Journal of Medical Imaging and... Aug 2023There is increasing evidence in the literature to support venous sinus stenting in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who fail first-line therapy. Venous...
INTRODUCTION
There is increasing evidence in the literature to support venous sinus stenting in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who fail first-line therapy. Venous sinus stenting is a safe and successful technique compared with cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures. This study examines the clinical outcomes of patients post intracranial venous stenting for intracranial hypertension across three tertiary hospitals in Western Australia.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on 83 consecutive patients treated with intracranial venous stenting for IIH at three tertiary hospitals from October 2013 to March 2020. Data were collected from outpatient clinic letters, electronic discharge letters, electronic radiological imaging and procedural reports.
RESULTS
89.2% patients were able to cease Acetazolomide post stenting. 78.3% patients reported resolution of headaches. 84.3% patients demonstrated resolution of their papilloedema. 91.6% patients demonstrated improvement of their visual acuity. Compared with a recent meta-analysis by Satti and Chaudry in 2015, our results demonstrated a higher technical success rate and lower complication rates.
CONCLUSION
Our study findings support the paradigm shift from CSF diversion procedures to venous sinus stenting in patients with IIH who fail first-line therapy. Venous sinus stenting has a high technical success rate and significantly lower complication rates than other invasive treatments.
Topics: Humans; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Retrospective Studies; Cranial Sinuses; Stents; Constriction, Pathologic
PubMed: 36645196
DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.13505 -
Frontonasal Encephalocele Complicated With Pseudotumor Cerebri: A Case Report and Literature Review.Cureus Sep 2023Primary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PPTS) is a rare disorder of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in the absence of an identifiable underlying etiology. Afflicted...
Primary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PPTS) is a rare disorder of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in the absence of an identifiable underlying etiology. Afflicted patients are usually obese women in their reproductive age presenting with symptoms of elevated ICP. Seldom, patients can present with an encephalocele. We reported a case of a 31-year-old female who initially presented to our center with complaints of headaches, foreign body sensation in the nasal cavity, and decreased ability to smell. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large intranasal encephalocele and defect along the frontal skull base, through which brain tissue was herniating. The patient was successfully treated surgically by implantation of a lumboperitoneal shunt to manage the high ICP caused by her PPTS. In combination, reconstruction of the frontal skull base defect for the encephalocele was performed. Currently, the patient is doing well despite some on-and-off headaches.
PubMed: 37868498
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45509 -
Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Aug 2023To evaluate the effect of optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF) on the rate of visual function improvement in patients with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS).
PURPOSE
To evaluate the effect of optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF) on the rate of visual function improvement in patients with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS).
METHODS
Retrospective chart review of patients with PTCS who underwent ONSF between 1998 and 2017. Visual function was evaluated by evaluating visual field (VF), mean deviation (MD), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, papilledema grade, and visual acuity (VA) prior to and after ONSF.
RESULTS
Seventeen female patients aged 17 to 36 years underwent unilateral ONSF. Follow-up averaged 40.1 months. VF MD improved steadily in both eyes up to 12 months. Average RNFL thickness improved in the operated eye from 347 ± 166 mm to 92 ± 27 mm ( < .001) and the non-operated eyes from 306 ± 165 mm to 109 ± 46 mm ( < .001). The grade of papilledema improved in the operated eye from 3.3 ± 1.3 to 0.3 ± 0.7 and the non-operated eye from 3.0 ± 1.6 to 0.18 ± 0.4. There was an exponential rate of improvement in papilledema and RNFL thickness, with the greatest improvement occurring within the first 30 days. Average visual acuity remained intact in both eyes before and after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
ONSF in appropriately selected patients leads to rapid improvement in papilledema and a steady recovery in VF.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Papilledema; Optic Nerve; Retrospective Studies; Visual Fields
PubMed: 36069075
DOI: 10.1080/01676830.2022.2118791 -
Transverse sinus pathologies, vestibular migraine and intracranial hypertension without papilledema.American Journal of Otolaryngology 2023In the absence of papilledema, the presentation of migraine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is very similar. In this respect, an IIH could be presented as...
BACKGROUND
In the absence of papilledema, the presentation of migraine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is very similar. In this respect, an IIH could be presented as a vestibular migraine. Our main objective in this case report is to demonstrate the similarities between IIH and vestibular migraine.
CASES
This is a report of 14 patients who have IIH without papilledema presented as vestibular migraine to the clinic and followed from 2020 to 2022.
RESULTS
The common presentation of patients was ear-facial pain, dizziness, and frequent pulsatile tinnitus. One-fourth of the patients reported episodes of true episodic vertigo. The average age was 37.8, the average BMI was 37.4, and the average lumbar puncture-opening pressure was 25.6 cm HO. Transverse sinus venous flow alterations caused neuroimaging findings of sigmoid sinus dehiscence, empty sella, or tonsillar ectopia. Most patients improved with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and one patient was treated with a dural sinus stent.
CONCLUSION
A transverse sinus stenosis, even in the non-dominant site, may elevate the CSF pressure in obese individuals. This stenosis causes dural sinus-related pulsatile tinnitus with characteristics different from those of an arterial origin. Dizziness is a common complaint in patients with IIH, just like VM. In our opinion, episodic vertigo in these patients is the direct effect of CSF flow alterations into the inner ear's vestibule. Patients with mild elevations will be presented to the clinic, similar to migraines with or without the presence of pulsatile tinnitus. Treatment requires lowering intracranial pressure and managing migraine symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Papilledema; Dizziness; Constriction, Pathologic; Tinnitus; Intracranial Hypertension; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Migraine Disorders; Vertigo; Stents
PubMed: 37290372
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103931 -
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery Jan 2024Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTC) is a chronic disorder, which is initially treated by conservative measures, yet surgery is inevitable in case of progressive worsening...
OBJECTIVES
Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTC) is a chronic disorder, which is initially treated by conservative measures, yet surgery is inevitable in case of progressive worsening of vision or headache despite medical treatment. The surgical management is controversial including CSF diversion procedures and optic decompression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different surgeries in PTC and to present surgical outcomes in a single center.
METHODS
This retrospective study included the patients with PTC who were operated by endoscopic optic nerve decompression (EOND), ventriculoperitoneal (VP) and lumboperitoneal (LP) shunting. Surgical outcomes, i.e. visual acuity, visual field, papilledema and headache were compared according to type of surgery. Surgical complications were noted.
RESULTS
Seventeen of 36 patients were treated with shunting, 14 with EOND and 5 patients with both EOND and shunting. No statistical significance was observed between CSF diversion procedures and EOND concerning clinical outcomes. The improvement rate of papilledema was higher with VPS (p = 0574) while more patients benefitted from LPS regarding visual field and acuity (p = 0471 and p = 0718, respectively). The best treatment response for headache was in shunt implemented patients (VPS and LPS) with a rate of 88.2% followed by EOND (78.6%) and both surgeries (60%)(p = 0.294). Gender and BMI were significant predictors of improved papilledema (p = 0.034).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated comparable results between shunting and EOND, regarding the efficacy on surgical outcomes. EOND is quite effective for headache besides its advantage on treatment-refractory visual loss. Shunting may offer sustained relief of symptoms when compared with EOND.
Topics: Humans; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Papilledema; Retrospective Studies; Lipopolysaccharides; Optic Nerve; Treatment Outcome; Decompression, Surgical; Headache
PubMed: 38176216
DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.108088 -
Cureus Apr 2024We present a case admitted for evaluation of suspected idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with an unusual but important departure from the expected algorithm. A...
We present a case admitted for evaluation of suspected idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with an unusual but important departure from the expected algorithm. A 31-year-old lady came with a two-week duration of a mild headache and one-week duration of double vision with no previously documented fever or any comorbidities. Clinically, she had papilledema and bilateral abducens palsy with no signs of meningeal irritation. MRI brain radiology was consistent with IIH. Her CSF study showed pleocytosis with elevated protein levels and normal glucose. Serology was positive for at low titers but CSF culture grew , confirming the diagnosis of neurobrucellosis. Her headache and abducens palsy improved over the first two weeks, and the papilledema resolved over two months with antibiotics. This clinical mimic is important for physicians (including neurophysicians) and Infectious Disease specialists. The radiological mimic comes from chinked (small) ventricles, unlike most meningeal diseases which can present with papilledema and abducens palsy including tuberculosis, cryptococcosis, and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. A CSF study is mandatory in the workup of IIH despite massive improvements in imaging.
PubMed: 38707027
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57496 -
Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology : the... Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Intracranial Hypertension; Vision Disorders; Blindness
PubMed: 38117561
DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000002077 -
Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics Sep 2023Traditional models of intracranial dynamics fail to capture several important features of the intracranial pressure (ICP) pulse. Experiments show that, at a local...
OBJECTIVE
Traditional models of intracranial dynamics fail to capture several important features of the intracranial pressure (ICP) pulse. Experiments show that, at a local amplitude minimum, the ICP pulse normally precedes the arterial blood pressure (ABP) pulse, and the cranium is a band-stop filter centered at the heart rate for the ICP pulse with respect to the ABP pulse, which is the cerebral windkessel mechanism. These observations are inconsistent with existing pressure-volume models.
METHODS
To explore these issues, the authors modeled the ABP and ICP pulses by using a simple electrical tank circuit, and they compared the dynamics of the circuit to physiological data from dogs by using autoregressive with exogenous inputs (ARX) modeling.
RESULTS
The authors' ARX analysis showed close agreement between the circuit and pulse suppression in the canine cranium, and they used the analogy between the circuit and the cranium to examine the dynamics that underlie this pulse suppression.
CONCLUSIONS
This correspondence between physiological data and circuit dynamics suggests that the cerebral windkessel consists of the rhythmic motion of the brain parenchyma and CSF that continuously opposes systolic and diastolic blood flow. Such motion has been documented with flow-sensitive MRI. In thermodynamic terms, the direct current (DC) power of cerebral arterial perfusion drives smooth capillary flow and alternating current (AC) power shunts pulsatile energy through the CSF to the veins. This suggests that hydrocephalus and related disorders are disorders of CSF path impedance. Obstructive hydrocephalus is the consequence of high CSF path impedance due to high resistance. Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is the consequence of high CSF path impedance due to low inertance and high compliance. Low-pressure hydrocephalus is the consequence of high CSF path impedance due to high resistance and high compliance. Ventriculomegaly is an adaptive physiological response that increases CSF path volume and thereby reduces CSF path resistance and impedance. Pseudotumor cerebri is the consequence of high DC power with normal CSF path impedance. CSF diversion by shunting is an accessory windkessel-it drains energy (and thereby lowers ICP) and lowers CSF path resistance and impedance. Cushing's reflex is an accessory windkessel in extremis-it maintains DC power (arterial hypertension) and reduces AC power (bradycardia). The windkessel theory is a thermodynamic approach to the study of energy flow through the cranium, and it points to a new understanding of hydrocephalus and related disorders.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Hydrocephalus; Brain; Intracranial Pressure; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37382303
DOI: 10.3171/2023.1.PEDS22372 -
Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology : the... Dec 2023Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is uncommon in men. Previous studies reported on high frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in men with IIH, but the...
BACKGROUND
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is uncommon in men. Previous studies reported on high frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in men with IIH, but the pathophysiology of this association remains unclear. One possible culprit for increased intracranial pressure in patients with OSA is hypercapnia. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of hypercapnia during polysomnography (PSG) study in men with and without IIH and to report on the rate and severity of OSA in men with IIH compared with control subjects of similar age and body mass index (BMI).
METHODS
Prospective case-control study of male patients diagnosed with IIH underwent PSG with continuous oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring overnight. Healthy control subjects with similar age and BMI also underwent PSG. The incidence of OSA diagnosis, rate of hypercapnia and hypoxia, and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were compared between 2 groups.
RESULTS
Eleven subjects with IIH and 10 controls underwent PSG. Both groups were similar regarding age and BMI on the Mann-Whitney U test ( P = 0.072 for age, P = 0.251 for BMI). Subjects for whom carbon dioxide data were not available for more than 50% of total sleep time were excluded from hypercapnia analysis. The mean age was 41.9 years, and the mean BMI was 33.8 kg/m 2 in subjects and controls. OSA was diagnosed in 9 of 11 men with IIH and 4 of 10 controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of hypercapnia and hypoxia between 2 groups for whom the data were available. All patients with BMI over 30 kg/m 2 (7 of 7) and 50% (2 of 4) controls with BMI over 30 kg/m 2 were diagnosed with OSA compared with 50% (2 of 4) of cases and 33% (2 of 6) of controls with BMI less than 30 kg/m 2 . BMI was a significant predictor of total AHI ( P = 0.042) and OSA severity ( P = 0.023), but IIH diagnosis was not ( P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in hypercapnia rate between men with IIH and controls; thus, hypercapnia is an unlikely causative factor in pathophysiology of IIH. OSA on PSG was almost 2 times as prevalent in patients with IIH compared with controls; however, BMI was the strongest predictor of OSA diagnosis, and most patients (9 of 11) with BMI over 30 kg/m 2 had OSA on PSG. In men with BMI less than 30, the rate of OSA on PSG study was higher in men with IIH. Based on these data, we recommend that all men with the diagnosis of IIH should undergo PSG study.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Hypercapnia; Carbon Dioxide; Polysomnography; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Hypoxia
PubMed: 36416758
DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001734