The Significance and Reliability of Imaging Findings in Pseudotumor Cerebri

ABSTRACT

The objective of our study was to provide a comparative assessment of previously reported magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in primary and secondary pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) patients, to examine their diagnostic contribution, and to evaluate their association with symptoms, neuro-ophthalmological findings, laboratory results, and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics.

Twenty-eight consecutive patients with PTC were included in the study. Age- and sex-matched 20 individuals with normal neurologic examination served as the control group. Modified Dandy Criteria were used for the diagnosis of PTC. Orbital and cranial MRI and MR venography of all patients and controls were assessed by three radiologists.

According to our study, posterior flattening of the globe (64% sensitive, 100% specific), optic nerve sheath distention (46% sensitive, 100% specific), vertical tortuosity of the optic nerve (30% sensitive, 95% specific), and partial empty sella (43% sensitive, 100% specific) emerged as particularly valuable markers for a diagnosis of PTC.

KEYWORDS:

• Intracranial hypertension
• MRI
• partial empty sella
• optic nerve

Declaration of interest

There is no conflict of interest of any of the authors.