Also known as Pseudotumor Cerebri, is a condition where there is a high-pressure surrounding the brain and spinal cord due to excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF acts as a cushion for the brain and is a transport for nutrients and waste around the brain and spine. As the skull is inflexible ay excess CSF puts pressure on the brain tissue. The causes of this are usually unknown (idiopathic) but some comorbid conditions include Chiari Malformation and Craniocervical Instability. ​

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Common symptoms include:

- Headache (worse in the morning or lying down)

- Vision Loss

- Pulsatile tinnitus

- Visual disturbances (blond spots, poor peripheral vision)

- Papilledema 

- Nausea/Vomiting​

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Treatment ranges from medications such as Diamox and/or Topomax or the use of a surgically implanted shunts. There are several types of shunts used and they divert CSF away to other areas of the bodies to be absorbed. Shunts can be positioned to start at either the ventricles or an area in the lumbar and end in either the peritoneal area atrium. The common shunts include the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt and lumbar-peritoneal (LP) shunt.

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Sometimes CSF pressure can be too low resulting in Intracranial Hypotension. This can occur from CSF leaks or over-shunting from IIH. Leaks can be caused by surgery or procedures that pierce the dura or can occur spontaneously (especially in those with EDS)

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