Œdème papillaire dans l'hypertension intracrânienne idiopathique

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is generally an easily recognized condition occurring in obese women and characterized by headache, papilledema, and visual loss. All patients must undergo emergent neuro-imaging to exclude a mass lesion. True papilledema must be carefully distinguished from pseudo-papilledema. Lumbar puncture establishes the diagnosis with high opening pressure and normal cerebral spinal fluid analysis. The mechanism and the aetiology of elevated pressure in idiopathic intracranial hypertension remain unclear. Computerized visual field is the most important test for serial follow-up and treatment generally consists of weight loss and diuretics, with optic nerve sheath fenestration or cerebral spinal fluid shunting procedure for those who fail medical management. A small percentage develops severe vision loss despite treatment.