PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI TREATMENT
Headaches are one of the causes of many diseases. For this reason, it is difficult to detect the development of some diseases. Pseudotumor cerebri is one of these diseases. It is a disease that progresses with chronic headaches and is observed in individuals with severe pain due to the effect of increased intracranial pressure. When people go to the doctor, they usually come with symptoms such as tinnitus, difficulty in vision and headache. In more advanced cases, there may be vision loss. Although this disorder is attempted to be solved with drug treatment, surgical procedures are applied when the treatment is insufficient. Especially in advanced stages, surgical treatment is directly applied in order to prevent any organ loss.
What is Psuedotumor Cerebri?
Psuedotumor cerebri is a disorder named to describe a false tumor inside the head. This disorder is not commonly observed in clinics. This disorder develops as a result of the increase in intracranial pressure caused by brain spinal fluid gathering inside the head due to a blockage. The causes of development are thought to be an increase in fluid production or a problem in its absorption.
Diagnosis of Psuedotumor Cerebri
For diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri, there must be clear signs of increased intracranial pressure in the patient. In addition, brain tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture are used to collect information about the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid and when it is not normal, suspicion of this disease. Then the diagnosis is made and a treatment plan is prepared.
How Does Pseudotumor Cerebri Develop?
The causes of pseudotumor cerebri development are not fully understood. However, the clinical condition is associated with the presence of excessive cerebrospinal fluid circulation. The accumulation of fluid caused by decreased absorption leads to pressure on the brain.
Obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of pseudotumor cerebri. It is more common in overweight and obese women. Children who are overweight or obese are also observed to have pseudotumor cerebri. The misuse of certain medications such as overuse of vitamin A, birth control pills, and antibiotics can also lead to the development of the condition.
Symptoms commonly seen in pseudotumor cerebri include:
- A dull headache starting behind the eyes that may increase at night and when waking up in the morning.
- Severe visual disturbances such as blurred vision, partial blindness or double vision. Permanent vision loss may occur as the condition progresses.
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Nausea and vomiting may occur.
- Dizziness is a common symptom.
- Difficulty maintaining balance.
What methods are used in the treatment of Pseudotumor Cerebri?
In the treatment of pseudotumor cerebri, which is detected by eye tests, imaging methods, and spinal fluid, both medication and surgical treatments are used. Medication treatments primarily include migraine medications to alleviate headaches. These include Sumatriptan and Naratriptan. Acetazolamide is also used to decrease and balance the production of cerebrospinal fluid. This medication can have side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and tingling in the fingers. Finally, Furosemide is used to reduce swelling and pressure in the head.
In cases where medication is insufficient, surgical methods are applied. These methods include optic nerve sheath fenestration and spinal fluid shunt placement. In the first method, the excess fluid inside the head is removed by cutting the tissue surrounding the optic nerve, thus solving problems related to vision. In spinal fluid shunt placement, a tube is placed in the spinal cord that drains the fluid. The pressure is reduced by directing the fluid towards the abdomen, and pseudotumor cerebri is eliminated. This operation is primarily used in severe cases.
Post-treatment process
After treatment, the patient can prevent the recurrence of this disease by paying attention to many points. It is recommended that the patient pay attention to not gaining weight, regularly undergo eye control, and try not to consume too much fat in their diet. If symptoms occur again, the patient should immediately consult a doctor.
Why Choose Us?
At Dr Özgür Akşan – Health Türkiye, we have been providing top-quality neurosurgical treatment options for almost a decade under the guidance and leadership of Op. Dr. Özgür Akşan. Our team is comprised of highly experienced and skilled surgeons, including Dr. Özgür Akşan, Dr. Nail Özdemir, and Dr. Feryal Akşan, all of them having more than 20 years of experience in medicine.
We offer a wide range of treatment options for various neurosurgical conditions, including herniated discs, lumbar spinal stenosis, traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, cervical disc herniation, Chiari malformation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. Our team is highly skilled in performing advanced neurosurgical procedures, such as microsurgical discectomy, endoscopic discectomy, spinal fusion instrumentation, craniotomy, craniectomy, gamma-knife radiation therapy, and many more.
At Dr Özgür Akşan – Health Türkiye, we are committed to providing personalized care and tailored treatment plans for each patient based on their unique needs and medical history. Our clinic in Izmir is equipped with the latest technology and we are working with private hospitals with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure the highest level of care for our patients.
Choose Dr Özgür Akşan – Health Türkiye for your neurosurgical needs and experience the expertise and care of our highly trained team of neurosurgeons, led by Dr. Özgür Akşan himself.