Abstract:

Objective: We aimed to define the demographic characteristics, referral symptoms, and neuroimaging findings in children with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) by comparing the differences between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) (primary PTSS) and secondary PTCS. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records and brain imaging findings of children with PTCS who were <18 years of age and were followed by the outpatient clinics of the Department of Child Neurology between January 2011 and January 2016. The children were categorized into two groups: (1) children with IIH and (2) children with secondary PTCS. Results: In total, 26 children were enrolled in the study; group 1 comprised 16 patients, and group 2 comprised 10 patients. In group 2, there were four patients with sinus venous thrombosis, one with autoimmune thyroiditis, one with hypothyroidism, one with Down syndrome, one with pituitary adenomas, and one with pregnancy related PTSS. One patient developed PTSS while receiving growth hormone therapy. At the time of admission, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, prepubertal/postpubertal patient ratio, headache, double vision, visual disturbance/loss and presence of nausea/vomiting (p > 0.05). Positive radiological findings were not statistically different between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In children with PTSS, the symptoms at onset and brain imaging findings were found to be similar between primary and secondary PTSS.

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