Diagnostic value of the optic nerve sheath subarachnoid space in patients with intracranial hypotension syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The size of the subarachnoid space in the optic nerve sheath (ONS) on MR images is thought to reflect intracranial pressure. The diagnostic value of this space was investigated in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) syndrome.


METHODS
Coronal fat-saturated T2-weighted MRI of the orbit was performed in 15 patients with SIH fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for headache caused by low CSF pressure of the International Classification of Headache Disorders or the criteria for spontaneous spinal CSF leaks and intracranial hypotension. The size of the subarachnoid space in the ONS was measured in 2 slices behind the eyeballs. The images were compared before and after treatment. The CSF pressure was measured by lumbar puncture.


RESULTS
Before treatment, the diameter of the ONS subarachnoid space ranged from 2.58 to 4.21 mm (mean 3.34 mm) and the thickness from 0 to 0.48 mm (mean 0.15 mm). Both measurements showed significant correlations with CSF opening pressure, and 8 patients had no CSF space before treatment. The size of CSF space increased in many patients after effective treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Disappearance of the CSF space in the ONS was frequently observed in patients with SIH. This characteristic finding may be useful in the diagnosis of SIH as well as in the evaluation of treatment effectiveness.
Department of Neurosurgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan.
Nobuyasu
N
Takeuchi
Toru
T
Horikoshi
Hiroyuki
H
Kinouchi
Arata
A
Watanabe
Takashi
T
Yagi
Kentaro
K
Mitsuka
Nobuo
N
Senbokuya
D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D019585:Intracranial Hypotension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000473:pathology*