Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Masquerading as Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Diagnostic Challenge

Scritto il 03/08/2026
da Nikhil Gupta

J Assoc Physicians India. 2026 Jul;74(7):90-92. doi: 10.59556/japi.74.1594.

ABSTRACT

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome identified by raised intracranial pressure (ICP), with absence of a mass lesion/hydrocephalus, typically affecting obese women of childbearing age.1 It may present with similar symptoms such as headache, visual disturbances, and papilledema, making clinical differentiation challenging.1 IIH primarily threatens vision, and treatment focuses on lowering ICP using medications like acetazolamide, serial lumbar punctures, or surgical interventions such as optic nerve sheath fenestration or CSF shunting in refractory cases.2 Misdiagnosing IIH as CVST can lead to unnecessary anticoagulation, which may prove to be harmful for the patient.

PMID:42544001 | DOI:10.59556/japi.74.1594