Intracranial Health Dictionary

This is the pressure that is maintained by the brain tissue, intracellular and extracellular ?uid, cerebrospinal ?uid and blood. An increase in intracranial pressure may occur as a result of in?ammation, injury, haemorrhage, or tumour in the brain tissue as well as of some congenital conditions. The pressure is measured by lumbar puncture in which a syringe attached to a mamometer (pressure-measuring device) is inserted into the cerebrospinal ?uid surrounding the lower part of the spinal cord. Where continuous pressure monitoring is necessary, an in-dwelling device can be implanted into a cerebral ventricle. Normal pressure is around 10 mm of mercury (Hg), with the acceptable upper limit being 25 mm Hg.... intracranial pressure

see idiopathic intracranial hypertension.... benign intracranial hypertension

(benign intracranial hypertension, pseudotumour cerebri) a syndrome of raised pressure within the skull in the absence of a clear structural cause, such as a tumour. Although the cause is not certain, proposed mechanisms include impaired reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid or venous outflow from the brain. The symptoms include headache, vomiting, double vision, and *papilloedema. The diagnosis is made by finding a high opening pressure at *lumbar puncture in the absence of a causative structural abnormality on brain imaging. It can improve spontaneously but drug therapy or neurosurgical treatment may be required to protect the patient’s vision.... idiopathic intracranial hypertension

an increasingly recognized type of persistent headache in a patient with no history of headaches. Features include headache that is worse on standing and resolves on lying flat. It may be associated with other symptoms, such as dizziness, tinnitus, and (rarely) *diplopia. The commonest cause is a complication of lumbar puncture, but it may occur spontaneously (spontaneous intracranial hypotension) after a dural tear resulting in a leak of cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment is with bed rest and increased intake of fluids; caffeine orally or intravenously is also used. In cases that do not resolve, an epidural blood patch procedure is performed, in which a small quantity of the patient’s blood is slowly injected into the *epidural space to seal the leak.... intracranial hypotension headache

see intracranial hypotension headache.... spontaneous intracranial hypotension