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Pseudo Cerebral Tumor

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or pseudo cerebral tumor, is a condition that results when too much fluid is present in the skull, causing pressure. Symptoms of pseudo cerebral tumor resemble brain tumors (hence the name), but there is no actual tumor present. With proper medical care, pseudo cerebral tumor is a reversible condition.

  1. Considerations

    • There is no known cause for pseudo cerebral tumor. One factor often associated with the condition is weight gain, causing some to believe hormones play a part, but no definitive findings have been discovered to date. Women are more likely to develop the condition than men are.

    Contributing Factors

    • Although no cause is known, there are contributing factors associated with the condition. Too much vitamin A in the diet or in supplemental form, steroids used to increase muscle mass, and blockages or blood clots in the veins have been seen in people with pseudo cerebral tumor. Medications including tetracycline, lithium, and tamoxifen, along with NSAIDS, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been associated with the condition. Hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism, along with Cushing's disease, renal failure, and anemia have also been linked with pseudo cerebral tumor.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms of pseudo cerebral tumor include headaches that can be severe (including migraines) and do not get better with medication, impaired vision or blindness, hearing loss, vomiting and nausea, memory loss, shoulder or neck pain, pain behind the eyes, a "whooshing" or ringing in the ears, and dizziness. Symptoms may get worse during physical activity.

    Diagnosis

    • Tests used to confirm pseudo cerebral tumor include CAT scan or MRI to rule out presence of an actual tumor, a spinal tap to show extra intracranial pressure, and vision tests to check for swollen optic nerves.

    Treatment

    • Weight loss is the best treatment option when dealing with pseudo cerebral tumor. Along with weight loss, diuretics and reduction in salt consumption to lessen fluid buildup, and corticosteroid medication are used. If these measures do not work, surgery is often called for. Surgeries to help pseudo cerebral tumor include optic nerve sheath fenestration, where slits are cut in the optic nerve covering allowing fluid to leak out and reduce pressure; and lumbar shunts, where a tube is put in the fluid space in the brain and run to the abdominal cavity, reducing pressure and eliminating symptoms.

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