Springer (part of Springer Nature), Child's Nervous System, 3(26), p. 313-321
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-009-1018-0
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PURPOSE: Our aim was to improve diagnosis and management of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC; also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension) in children. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive analysis of epidemiology, diagnostic work-up, therapy, and clinical follow-up in 53 consecutive patients. RESULTS: We identified several important aspects to be considered in the management of these children. First, patients may present without obvious symptoms at diagnosis. Second, bilateral papilledema might not or not yet be present in symptomatic patients. Third, measurement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure may not always be reliable due to drugs used for sedation, which may alter intracranial pressure. Fourth, normal CSF pressure values in childhood are not well established and diagnosis might even be justified if pressure is