Pseudotumor cerebri
Pseudotumor cerebri, also known as benign intracranial hypertension, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or a false brain tumor, is a neurologic disease that is caused by increased intracranial pressure in the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain without any indication of intracranial pathology. This pressure increase can be attributed to either buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It most commonly affects women between ages 20 and 50. Symptoms are headache, nausea, transient visual obscurations, and vomiting. The name of the disease comes from the fact that these symptoms are also frequently observed in patients with brain tumor. Depending on the severity of the condition, pressure may be decreased by repeated spinal taps (to remove excessive cerebrospinal fluid), steroids, drugs that reduce cerebrospinal fluid production and / or diuretics. Papilledema is a very common sign of Pseudotumor cerebri.The diagnosis of Pseudotumor cerebri is one of exclusion. Due to the possibility of causing a brain herniation if an actual lesion is present, a spinal tap should only be performed after a negative MRI or CT scan.