Can Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Cause Brain Herniation? My Last Opening

Posted on Fri, 16 Aug 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : Can idiopathic intracranial hypertension cause brain herniation? My last opening pressure was 36 and iam very scared herniation is possible.

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The answer is NO.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.

I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.

I have noted your clinical details, where a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has been made. Based on this, there is no risk of brain herniation. In fact, lumbar punctures are routinely done in people with IIH to confirm the diagnosis and determine the CSF opening pressure.

I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.

Wishing you good health,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Lesions are incidental and not related to IIH.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.

Tiny lesions are common in general population and I see them in about 10% of normal MRI brain. They are not related to IIH and there is no need to worry about them.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (13 minutes later)

Thank you. I discovered i have 4 small leisons on my mri iam told not to worry about. Are lesions common with iih, and are they common in the general population?