Pseudotumor cerebri

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Definition

Pseudotumor cerebri occurs when the pressure inside your skull (intracranial pressure) increases for no obvious reason. Symptoms mimic those of a brain tumor, but no tumor is present. Also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, this disorder can occur in children and adults, but it's most common in obese women of childbearing age.

In the general population, fewer than one person in 100,000 develops pseudotumor cerebri. In women age 20 to 44 years who are at least 20 percent over their ideal body weight, the incidence is 19 per 100,000. As the number of obese women increases, so does the number of cases of pseudotumor cerebri.

The increased intracranial pressure associated with pseudotumor cerebri can squeeze your optic nerve and cause vision loss. Medications often can reduce this pressure, but in some cases, surgery is necessary.

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Symptoms