[Usefulness of intracranial pressure continuous monitoring in pseudotumor cerebri]

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the usefulness of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

Material and methods: Ten patients with suspected PTC, but having incomplete criteria for the syndrome, on whom ICP monitoring was performed. Demographic, clinical and radiological data were collected, as well as ICP monitoring data and related complications. Results were evaluated 6 months after surgery.

Results: In relation to demographics, all patients were young females. Mean ICP was less than 250 mmH2O in 5 of 8 patients with pathological monitoring. Most patients (62.5%) showed A waves; these were related with higher mean ICP, but not always with papilloedema. All recordings showed high amplitude B waves. Most pathological recordings showed wave amplitudes superior to 5 mmHg. There were no complications related to the monitoring technique.

Conclusions: Clinical and lumbar opening pressure data are not enough to establish PTC diagnosis correctly, especially if patient has been treated previously. Monitoring using ICP is a valuable, safe tool, and very useful in this syndrome. Mean ICP could be normal even with pathological recordings. Morphological analysis is necessary to establish diagnosis. A and B waves are highly related to shunt response. Wave amplitude is related to brain compliance and to shunt response as well.

Keywords: B waves; Benign chronic intracranial hypertension; Hipertensión intracraneal benigna; Intracranial pressure monitoring; Monitorización presión intracraneal; NeuroPICture; Ondas B; Pseudotumor cerebri.