Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Lack of histologic evidence for cerebral edema.
OBJECTIVE
To study brain histologic features in two cases of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) at autopsy.


METHODS
Formaldehyde solution-fixed sections of cerebral white matter in two cases and structures of the sensory visual system in one case were analyzed.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
Two patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who died unexpectedly.


METHODS
Histologic study of cerebral white matter in the two patients.


RESULTS
We did not find histologic evidence of any type of cerebral edema in our patients. Review of a portion of the material from a previous report is also consistent with this conclusion.


CONCLUSIONS
If patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension have histologically apparent cerebral edema, it is not a consistent finding.
Wall
M
M
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Dollar
J D
JD
Sadun
A A
AA
Kardon
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*