Quantitative evaluation of cranial MRI findings in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Aims: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome characterized by intracranial pressure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of diagnosis by giving the quantitative values of imaging findings of IIH on cranial MRI. Methods: This study included 37 patients who were diagnosed with IIH and 22 healthy controls were included by using a match-to-pair technique regarding their sex and age. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and optic nerve diameter (OND), transverse diameter of Meckel cave (MCD), superior sagittal sinus area (SSSA), right and left transverse sinus area (RTSA, LTSA), transverse diameter of right lateral ventricle frontal horn (LVFHD), vertical length and A-P diameter of sella cavity, vertical length of pituitary gland (VLPG) were measured. ROC analysis was performed for the cut off values. Results: There was statistically significant difference between patient group and control group in terms of ONSD, MCD, SSSA, RTSA, LTSA sella cavity A-P diameter, VLPG vertical length of sella and hypoplasia of dural venous sinus. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference between the patient and the control groups regarding LVFHD, OND. ONSD showed an AUC of 0.996 with a cutoff value of 6.4 mm >=, it was found to be highest reliable marker in the differential diagnosis of IIH patients from the controls. Conclusion: We believe that this study can an important contribution to the diagnosis IIH and follow-up period after its treatment by measuring ONSD, MCD, Sella A-P and VLPG, vertical length of sella and SSSA.