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Idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Case contributed by Alan Coulthard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headache and partial 6th nerve palsy

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Female

The associated features of chronically-raised intracranial pressure are well-demonstrated in this case. Sagittal T2 images show a partially empty sella appearance. Axial T2 images show bilateral dilated perioptic spaces.

Case Discussion

This young patient has idiopathic intracranial hypertension (a.k.a. benign intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri). Her dural venous sinus imaging (not shown) was normal. She proceeded to lumbar puncture, her opening pressure was 36 cm H2O (normal 10-18 cm H2O).

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