A narrative review of magnetic resonance imaging findings in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Abdolreza Sheibani
Department of Radiology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Contribution: Writing - review & editing, Methodology
Search for more papers by this authorNarges Hashemi
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Data curation, Conceptualization, Investigation, Project administration, Validation
Search for more papers by this authorBehnam Beizaei
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation
Search for more papers by this authorNahid Tavakkolizadeh
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation
Search for more papers by this authorAhmad Shoja
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation, Methodology
Search for more papers by this authorNeda Karimabadi
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation
Search for more papers by this authorHoushang Mirakhorli
Pharmacy Faculty, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing
Search for more papers by this authorParsa Hasanabadi
Student Research Committee, Kurdistan, University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Student Committee of Medical Education Development, Education Development Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Medicine Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Contribution: Writing - review & editing
Search for more papers by this authorAsma Payandeh
Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation, Methodology
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ehsan Hassannejad
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Correspondence Ehsan Hassannejad, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Postal Code: 9717853076, Birjand, Iran.
Email: [email protected]
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation, Methodology, Visualization, Investigation, Conceptualization, Project administration, Supervision
Search for more papers by this authorAbdolreza Sheibani
Department of Radiology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Contribution: Writing - review & editing, Methodology
Search for more papers by this authorNarges Hashemi
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Data curation, Conceptualization, Investigation, Project administration, Validation
Search for more papers by this authorBehnam Beizaei
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation
Search for more papers by this authorNahid Tavakkolizadeh
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation
Search for more papers by this authorAhmad Shoja
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation, Methodology
Search for more papers by this authorNeda Karimabadi
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation
Search for more papers by this authorHoushang Mirakhorli
Pharmacy Faculty, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing
Search for more papers by this authorParsa Hasanabadi
Student Research Committee, Kurdistan, University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Student Committee of Medical Education Development, Education Development Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Medicine Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Contribution: Writing - review & editing
Search for more papers by this authorAsma Payandeh
Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation, Methodology
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ehsan Hassannejad
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Correspondence Ehsan Hassannejad, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Postal Code: 9717853076, Birjand, Iran.
Email: [email protected]
Contribution: Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing, Data curation, Methodology, Visualization, Investigation, Conceptualization, Project administration, Supervision
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background and Aims
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare neurological disorder in the pediatric population which is defined as an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) without the presence of brain parenchymal lesions, hydrocephalus, or central nervous system infection. In this study, we have determined the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in IIH patients.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the electronic databases including Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Pubmed to identify suitable and relevant articles using keyword search methods. The search included keywords such as “idiopathic intracranial hypertension,” “pseudotumor cerebri,” “MRI,” and “pediatrics.” The search was limited to the available publications up to January 2024.
Results
MRI plays a crucial role in diagnosing IIH by excluding secondary causes and revealing neuroimaging findings associated with elevated ICP. Despite fewer studies in children compared to adults, MRI serves as a cornerstone in identifying traditional neuroradiological markers such as empty sella turcica, posterior globe flattening, optic nerve tortuosity, optic nerve sheath distension, and transverse venous sinus stenosis. Additional subtle markers include increased Meckel's cave length, cerebellar tonsillar herniation, and slit-like ventricles, although these are less reliable. Diffusion-weighted imaging does not typically show cerebral ADC value changes indicative of cerebral edema in pediatric IIH.
Conclusion
MRI findings provide valuable non-invasive diagnostic indicators that facilitate early detection, clinical management, and potential surgical intervention in pediatric IIH. The reliability of these MRI markers underscores their importance in clinical practice.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions. The datasets created during the current study are not publicly accessible due to the possibility of compromising the privacy of individuals.
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