Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Jul 20, 2022
  • Author: Andrea Tham, MD; Chief Editor: Andrew G Lee, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

When faced with a patient with "typical" IIH, the clinician must ensure that there are no extrinsic factors underlying the increased ICP. Exogenous substances/medications as well as several systemic and neurological disorders may present as IIH. In the event that the increased ICP is related to an underlying etiology these patients are then characterized as having the broader diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri. Diagnoses related to pseudotumor cerebri include obstructive venous disorders, endocrine abnormalities, the intake of various exogenous substances/medications, infectious and post-infectious states and other various medical conditions. [31]