Everton Cazzo1, Martinho Antonio Gestic2, Murillo Pimentel Utrini3, Felipe David Mendonça Chaim4, Fábio Henrique Mendonça Chaim5, Elaine Cristina Cândido6, Luciana Bueno da Silveira Jarolavsky7, Ana Maria Neder de Almeida8, José Carlos Pareja9, Elinton Adami Chaim10. 1. MD, MSc, PhD. Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 2. MD, MSc. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 3. MD. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 4. MD, MSc. Assistant Physician, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 5. MD. Resident Physician, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 6. BSc, MSc. Assistant Nurse, Bariatric Surgery Outpatient Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (HC-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 7. BSc. Head Nurse, Bariatric Surgery Outpatient Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (HC-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 8. BSc. Attending Psychologist, Bariatric Surgery Outpatient Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (HC-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 9. MD, PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil. 10. MD, MSc, PhD. Full Professor. Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCM-UNICAMP), Campinas (SP), Brazil.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Pseudotumor cerebri occurs when there is an increase in intracranial pressure without an underlying cause, usually leading to loss of vision. It is most commonly observed in obese women of child-bearing age. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old woman presented at our service with idiopathic intracranial hypertension that had been diagnosed two years earlier, which had led to chronic refractory headache and an estimated 30% loss of visual acuity, associated with bilateral papilledema. She presented partial improvement of the headache with acetazolamide, but the visual loss persisted. Her intracranial pressure was 34 cmH2O. She presented a body mass index of 39.5 kg/m2, also associated with high blood pressure. Computed tomography of the cranium with endovenous contrast did not show any abnormalities. She underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with uneventful postoperative evolution. One month following surgery, she presented a 24% excess weight loss. An ophthalmological examination revealed absence of visual loss and remission of the papilledema. There were no new episodes of headache following the surgery. There was also complete resolution of high blood pressure. The intracranial pressure decreased to 24 cmH2O, six months after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Although the condition is usually associated with obesity, there are few reports of bariatric surgery among individuals with pseudotumor cerebri. In cases studied previously, there was high prevalence of resolution or improvement of the disease following bariatric surgery. There is no consensus regarding which technique is preferable. Thus, further research is necessary in order to establish a specific algorithm.
CONTEXT: Pseudotumor cerebri occurs when there is an increase in intracranial pressure without an underlying cause, usually leading to loss of vision. It is most commonly observed in obesewomen of child-bearing age. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old woman presented at our service with idiopathic intracranial hypertension that had been diagnosed two years earlier, which had led to chronic refractory headache and an estimated 30% loss of visual acuity, associated with bilateral papilledema. She presented partial improvement of the headache with acetazolamide, but the visual loss persisted. Her intracranial pressure was 34 cmH2O. She presented a body mass index of 39.5 kg/m2, also associated with high blood pressure. Computed tomography of the cranium with endovenous contrast did not show any abnormalities. She underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with uneventful postoperative evolution. One month following surgery, she presented a 24% excess weight loss. An ophthalmological examination revealed absence of visual loss and remission of the papilledema. There were no new episodes of headache following the surgery. There was also complete resolution of high blood pressure. The intracranial pressure decreased to 24 cmH2O, six months after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Although the condition is usually associated with obesity, there are few reports of bariatric surgery among individuals with pseudotumor cerebri. In cases studied previously, there was high prevalence of resolution or improvement of the disease following bariatric surgery. There is no consensus regarding which technique is preferable. Thus, further research is necessary in order to establish a specific algorithm.