TY - JOUR
A1 - David, Dawotola
A1 - Vincent, Odigie
A1 - Lazarus, Yusufu
A1 - Abdullahi, Jimoh
A1 - Philip, Ibinaye
A1 - Kingsley, Ketiku
T1 - Pseudotumor cerebri in a post-mastectomy Nigerian
Y1 - 2012/1/1
JF - Archives of International Surgery
JO - Arch Int Surg
SP - 45
EP - 47
VL - 2
IS - 1
UR - https://www.archintsurg.org/article.asp?issn=2278-9596;year=2012;volume=2;issue=1;spage=45;epage=47;aulast=David
DO - 10.4103/2278-9596.101276
N2 - Background: Pseudotumor cerebri, commonly known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a rare syndrome that manifests mainly as a consequence of raised intracranial pressure. Headache is the major presenting symptom. The diagnosis of this condition is established by exclusion, with the aid of computerized tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and examination of cerebrospinal fluid tap. We present a patient with advanced invasive ductal carcinoma that was successfully managed for pseudotumor cerebri.
Case Report: The patient was a 46-year-old female with stage III invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast that was treated with modified radical mastectomy, radiotherapy, and combination chemotherapy. She had also taken tamoxifen for 8 months when she developed headache and persistent non-projectile vomiting. She had two episodes of generalized seizures with associated dizziness which resolved on phenobarbitone. She had no neurological deficits. Computerized tomographic scan of the brain revealed features of raised intracranial pressure, and there was no focal intracerebral or cerebellar lesion. A diagnosis of idiopathic pseudotumor cerebri was entertained using the modified Dandy Criteria. She responded well to acetazolamide and dexamethasone.
Conclusion: Pseudotumor cerebri should be considered in cancer patients presenting with raised intracranial pressure of sudden onset in the absence of clinical and radiological evidence of brain metastases. We advocate prompt therapy in patients with pseudotumor cerebri to prevent or minimize morbidity.
ER -