Headache and the pseudotumor cerebri syndrome

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Sep;18(9):446. doi: 10.1007/s11916-014-0446-z.

Abstract

Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) refers to the primary and secondary disorders that cause elevated intracranial pressure without an intracranial mass lesion, ventriculomegaly, or central nervous system infection or malignancy. Headache is the most frequent symptom of PTCS, but there is considerable overlap between the headache features of raised intracranial pressure and the headache features of primary headache disorders. We review headache subtypes that occur in PTCS, non-headache features that help distinguish PTCS from other headache types, changes to the diagnostic criteria for PTCS with and without papilledema, and headache treatment strategies as they apply to PTCS.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetazolamide / therapeutic use
  • Back Pain / etiology
  • Back Pain / physiopathology*
  • Back Pain / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diuretics / therapeutic use
  • Fructose / analogs & derivatives
  • Fructose / therapeutic use
  • Furosemide / therapeutic use
  • Headache Disorders / etiology
  • Headache Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Headache Disorders / therapy
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypertension / complications
  • Intracranial Hypertension / physiopathology*
  • Intracranial Hypertension / therapy
  • Migraine Disorders / etiology
  • Migraine Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Migraine Disorders / therapy
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Papilledema / complications
  • Papilledema / physiopathology
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / complications
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / physiopathology*
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / therapy
  • Tinnitus / etiology
  • Tinnitus / physiopathology
  • Topiramate
  • Vision Disorders / etiology
  • Vision Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Weight Reduction Programs

Substances

  • Diuretics
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Topiramate
  • Fructose
  • Furosemide
  • Acetazolamide