Etiological Factors in Pediatric Pseudotumor Cerebri Cases

Abstract

Objective: Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is the presence of the signs and symptoms of intracranial pressure increase in the absence of a tumoral, structural or vascular mass-occupying lesion. This study aimed to investigate the etiological factors involved in childhood PTC cases.Methods: Data of the patients presented to the Private Medical Park Samsun Hospital, pediatric neurology outpatient clinic with the preliminary diagnosis of PTC between June 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, presentation symptoms, neuro-ophthalmological examination findings, laboratory data, and radiological imaging (brain magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance venography) findings. The female (i.e., Group 1) and male (i.e., Group 2) children were compared concerning the etiological factors.Results: The study cohort included 45 patients. There were 24 patients in Group 1 (i.e., female children) and 21 patients in Group 2 (i.e., male children). Among the 45 patients, 41 (91.1%) had an overt etiological factor. Mean age of the study patients were 9.06 year [2,5 months-18 years]. The most common symptom was headache (64.4%). Two groups were similar concerning mean patient age, pubertal stage, and rates of vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin D deficiency, abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance venography findings. However, the obesity rate was significantly higher in Group 2 than Group 1 (32,7% vs. 12,5%, p<0.05). Conclusion: A thorough investigation concerning etiology is crucial in pediatric PTC cases regardless of patient gender. Timely investigations regarding etiology will lead to timely treatment of this clinical condition and prevent irreversible devastating complications such as permanent hearing loss.