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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2015; 13(01): 049-053
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555155
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Brain Imaging in Pediatric Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome

Emanuele David
1   Department of Radiology, Anatomopathology and Oncology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2   Department of Radiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
,
Kshitij Mankad
3   Department of Neuroradiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

30 October 2014

21 January 2015

Publication Date:
13 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) is a clinical entity of unclear etiology characterized by raised intracranial pressure but normal cerebrospinal fluid contents and no associated anomalies evident in the brain parenchyma. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which is the primary (idiopathic) form of PTCS, generally affects adult obese females of childbearing age. Pediatric PTCS has been reported in association with various potential comorbidities, including chronic medical illness, infections, endocrine disorders, and ingestion and/or withdrawal of some drugs. Clinical signs and symptoms of PTCS in children are heterogeneous, but they classically include headache, papilledema, and visual disturbances (e.g., diplopia and/or vision loss). An important criterion for diagnosing PTCS involves imaging. The role of computed tomography is useful to rule out some secondary causes of elevated increased intracranial pressure (e.g., hydrocephalus, hemorrhage, mass effect); magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance venography are helpful in many diagnostic challenges and in the detection of subtle intracranial anomalies (e.g., isodense tumors, meningeal infiltrations, pathologies of posterior fossa, sinus venous thrombosis). In addition, magnetic resonance imaging is able to identify some secondary signs supportive of a diagnosis of PTCS, such as flattened posterior globe/sclera, empty sella, partially empty sella/decreased pituitary height, patulous optic nerve sheath, intraocular protrusion of optic nerve head, and enhanced and increased tortuosity of the optic nerve, though these are not specific. We briefly discuss the application of imaging in the assessment of pediatric PTCS patients.

Keywords

magnetic resonance imaging - idiopathic intracranial hypertension - pseudotumor cerebri - venography - transverse sinus stenosis
 

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