Intracranial Hypotension
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is probably an underdiagnosed cause of headache, even though its estimated to affect only about one in 50,000 individuals.
Symptoms of Intracranial Hypotension
The symptoms may include headache, neck stiffness and arm pain.
Causes and Risk Factors for Intracranial Hypotension
The condition is usually caused by the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A combination of an underlying weakness of the spinal meninges and a more or less trivial traumatic event, such as riding a roller coaster or jet skiing, is often found to cause spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
Diagnosing Intracranial Hypotension
Computerized tomography scanning (CT) is the most reliable method for finding out exactly where the leak is.
Treating Intracranial Hypotension
Treatment is usually done with surgery to patch the leak. The Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurosurgery is one of the leading medical centers where this procedure is done. The procedure is safe and generally successful.
Resources at Cedars-Sinai
