Question 1

is there a connection between optic nerve atrophy and pseudotumor cerebri?

Accepted Answer

Increase pressure: When spinal fluid pressure increase it compromise blood flow to the optic nerves.

Question 2

my optic nerves are swollen. they did a spinal tap and said there is no pressure. what else could it be? not showing all of the signs of pseudotumor.

Accepted Answer

Need to be cautious: This question is probably best handled by your ophthalmologist, as there can be serious causes.  More information is needed to answer your question accurately and safely.  However, if there is no pressure in your brain, it does rule out many of the dangerous  causes.  Some optic nerves can look "swollen" but really isn't.  A complete exam, history and  testing is needed to answer your questions.

Question 3

multiple suggestive mr signs of pseudotumor cerebri, including partially empty sella along mild ectatic dilatation of the optic nerves' sheaths means?

Accepted Answer

Specific syndrome: Pseudotumor cerebri with/without empty sella is a specific syndrome, which should be assessed with your MRI ordering physician.  Please discuss this with your care team to have follow up with respect to following your clinical course including vision.

Question 4

what is pseudotumor cerebri?

Accepted Answer

Pseudotumor cerebri: Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition in which the intracranial pressure is too high which leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss.  It is diagnosed by imaging the brain by ct scan or MRI and a spinal tap.

Question 5

can pseudotumor cerebri be hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Pseudotumor: I have never seen a case of pseudotumor passed along in a family, not to say it is impossible but very highly unlikely.  A more common cause is secondary to some drugs and obesity.

Question 6

does pseudotumor cerebri vary by height?

Accepted Answer

No: No, not necessarily.  Most people are often obese.

Question 7

what are the tests for pseudotumor cerebri?

Accepted Answer

Lumbar Puncture/MRI: These two tests help diagnose pseudotumor cerebri.
It is usually a type of high spinal fluid pressure in the brain.
It can cause many problems and should be evaluated by your family md, a neurosurgeon, and probably a neuroopthalmologist.

Question 8

pseudotumor cerebri disability, what to do?

Accepted Answer

Options: Treatment of pseudotumor cerebri can include serial spinal taps, medications, weight loss, treatment of medical conditions predisposing to pseudotumor, and ultimately if all else fails a shunt is placed to lower high pressure.

The primary risk is damage to the optic nerves if left untreated.

Question 9

are there drugs to cure pseudotumor cerebri?

Accepted Answer

No: There are drugs (acetazolamide and other diuretics) that may alleviate the symptoms of paeudorumor very well, and pseudotumor may often go into remission, but it's hard to call them cures.

Question 10

how many people suffer from pseudotumor cerebri?

Accepted Answer

1-2/100,000/yr: Each year, 1-2 out of 100, 000 people develop pseudotumor cerebri. Pseudotumor cerebri is more common among obese women between the ages of 15 and 44 years of age with perhaps 10 out of 100, 000 of them developing pseudotumor cerebri per year.

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Doctor answers about:

Nerve atrophy pseudotumor

A member asked:

Is there a connection between optic nerve atrophy and pseudotumor cerebri?

A member asked:

My optic nerves are swollen. they did a spinal tap and said there is no pressure. what else could it be? not showing all of the signs of pseudotumor.

A member asked:

Multiple suggestive mr signs of pseudotumor cerebri, including partially empty sella along mild ectatic dilatation of the optic nerves' sheaths means?

A member asked:

What is pseudotumor cerebri?

A member asked:

Can pseudotumor cerebri be hereditary?

A member asked:

Does pseudotumor cerebri vary by height?

A member asked:

What are the tests for pseudotumor cerebri?

A member asked:

Pseudotumor cerebri disability, what to do?

A member asked:

Are there drugs to cure pseudotumor cerebri?

A member asked:

How many people suffer from pseudotumor cerebri?

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