Rare Case of Unilateral Disc Oedema Secondary to Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Abstract

Majority of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) cases present with bilateral papilloedema. Unilateral papilloedema is a rare condition in IIH. This is a report of one such unusual case. Papilloedema is clinically defined as swelling of the optic nerve head secondary to raised intracranial pressure.1 Disc oedema is a non-specific term that includes papilloedema but also refers to a disc swollen from other causes. Classically, presence of papilloedema is most commonly due to an intracranial space occupying lesion leading to raised intracranial pressure; however, it may be caused due to other aetiologies such as hydrocephalus, shunt failures, idiopathic intracranial hypertension and drugs.2 Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, also known as pseudotumour cerebri, is a disorder characterised by increased intracranial pressure of unclear pathogenesis in the absence of other structural and obstructive lesions. This is a case of acute established unilateral disc oedema secondary to idiopathic intracranial hypertension.