Idiopathic intracranial hypertension – a wider spectrum than headaches and blurred vision

Background The purpose of this study was to analyse less known clinical scenarios associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Methods The study involved analysis of magnetic resonance imaging signs of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in patients with spontaneous rhinoliquorrhoea ( n = 7), in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and surgically treated antero-inferior temporal lobe meningo-encephaloceles (n = 15), and in patients who developed clinical signs of idiopathic intracranial hypertension following the treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension ( n = 7). Results Three of six patients with spontaneous rhinoliquorrhoea and six of 15 operated patients with temporal lobe epilepsy due to temporal lobe meningo-encephaloceles showed magnetic resonance imaging signs of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and had a body mass index >30 kg/m2. Rebound high pressure headaches and sings of idiopathic intracranial hypertension occurred in seven of 44 surgically treated spontaneous intracranial hypotension patients. Conclusions Magnetic resonance imaging findings should guide the clinician to consider (idiopathic) intracranial hypertension when patients develop spontaneous rhinoliquorrhoea, temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to temporal lobe meningoencephaloceles or high pressure headaches in spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Whether idiopathic intracranial hypertension must be regarded as a differential diagnosis or as a cause, or whether there are common pathophysiological pathways that lead to signs of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in this wider spectrum of disease is the focus of further study.