Glossary
This glossary has been provided to help you understand what the doctors are telling you! It has been listed alphabetically for ease of use.
If you would like to know a term that is not listed here, please fill in the form below and it will be added.
Each word has two explanations. The first (1), is from a medical dictionary or other authorities, with a link to the source provided.
The second (2), is my personal explanation, drawing on my nursing background and experiences with Intracranial Hypertension. I have related the words to how they affect IH.
Acetazolamide
See Diamox.
Angiogram
1. A diagnostic procedure done in the x-ray department to visualize blood vessels following introduction of a contrast material into an artery.
source
2. A test performed under local anaesthetic in x-ray, where they take pictures of the blood vessels.
In IH, a catheter (tube) is passed up from the femoral artery (top of leg/groin area), to the base of your brain under x-ray. When it is in position, they inject a dye and take pictures of the blood vessels.
This test enables Doctors to see the blood flow and if there are any blockages, malformations or other causes for increased pressure within the brain.
Arterio-venous malformation (AVM)
1. A tangled collection of abnormal blood vessels where there is an abnormal communication between the arterial and venous systems.
The afferents flow directly into the venouse efferents without the usual resistance of an intervening capillary bed.
source
Benign
1. Something that does not metastasise and treatment or removal is curative.
source
2. Causing no harm.
Benign Intracranial Hypertension (BIH)
1. An abnormal condition that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, headaches of varying intensity, and papilledema without any demonstrable intracranial lesion and that tends to occur in overweight women from 20 to 50 years of age -- called also benign intracranial hypertension. (Listed under PTC)
source
2. An old-fashioned word used for IH. As Benign means “causing no harm”, and BIH DOES cause harm there is a movement to rename the disease simply Intracranial Hypertension.
This word is more common in Australia than the US, where they call it PTC (Pseudotumor Cerebri).
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
1. A clear colorless fluid that contains small quantities of gluclose and protein.
Cerebrospinal fluid fills the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Acronym: CSF.source
2. This is the fluid that circulates between the spine and the brain. In IH it is the fluid that is under high pressure.
Computered Tomography (CT Scan)
1. A special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiplr x-ray images into a 2 dimensional cross sectional image.
This can reveal many soft tissue structures not shown by conventional radiography. Scans may also be dynamic in which a movement of a dye is tracked.Cuts may be 5 or 10 mm apart or, in some instances, even further apart.
A special dye material may be injected into the patient’s vein prior to the scan to help differenciate abnormal tissue and vasculature. How it works .
It is also known as Compterised Axial Tomography (CAT) scan.
source
2. An x-ray method where soft tissue can be seen. In IH, it is usually one of the first tests given, as it rules out other causes such as tumors.
A more accurate MRI test usually follows. A CT involves lying still and going into a tunnel-like structure while the machine works.
It may or may not involve the injection of a dye into your system. It is painless.
Diamox (Acetazolamide)
1. A drug that inhibits the enzyme carbonic anhydrase.At one time it was used as a diuretic, but more effective drugs are now available.
It has been used to treat epilepsy and to reduce intraocular pressure in managing glaucoma. Trade name is Diamox.source
2. Diamox is the drug of choice in the treatment of IH. It reduces the pressure medically and protects eyesight. Unfotunately, many people find some side affects difficult to tolerate. For more information, see treatments.
Diamox Sequels
1. Acetazolamide - As for Diamox.
2. Sequels is the second Diamox drug to come onto the market. It is currently scarce and difficult to obtain.
However, many people who could not tolerate Diamox have found this drug has fewer side-effects. For more information, see treatments.
.
Hypertension
2. High Pressure. In IH, it means the Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) is under high pressure. It is Hypertensive.
Hypotension
2. Low Pressure. In IH, it means the Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) is under low pressure.
It is Hypotensive. This occurs sometimes after a lumbar puncture if too much fluid is drained, or also if your Diamox dose is too high. It ends with a low-pressure headache which is relieved by lying down.
Idiopathic
1. Of the nature of an idiopathy, self originated, of unknown causation.
source
2. Of unknown origin or source. IH is an Idiopathic disease, as no-one yet knows what causes it.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension _IIH)
2. Another name for IH/BIH/PTC!
Intracranial
1. Within the skull.
source
Intracranial Hypertension
1. Increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. If symmetrically distributed it may have few neurologic symptoms (eg:pseudotumour cerebri), but if it is asymmetrical , (As in hydrocephalus), neurologic symptoms are often severe.
source
Intracranial Hypotension
1. Subnormal pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. It is most commonly founf after lumbar punctureand is associated with headache, nausea, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, and sometimes fever. It may also result from dehydration.
source
2. Low pressure of Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), within the brain.
Intracranial Pressure
1. The pressure the cerebrospinal fluid exerts on the brain.
source
2. The pressure of fluid (CSF) within the brain. This pressure can be tested by a Lumbar Puncture (LP), also known as a Spinal Tap. In people with IH, the pressure is increased.
Lasix (Furosemide)
1. Furosemide is a potent diuretic (water pill). Furosemide works by blocking the absorption of salt and fluid in the kidney tubules, causing a profound increase in urine output (diuresis).
source
2. A diuretic drug used to drain fluid from the body. Sometimes used in the treatment of IH where Diamox is not tolerated. See treatments for more details.
Lumbar Puncture (LP)
1. A diagnostic procedure where a sterile needle is introduced into the lower spine (L2) to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes.
Chemical analysis, cellular analysis and CSF pressure can all be measured with this procedure. The test can aid in the diagnosis of meningitis, subarachnoid haemorrhage and multiple sclerosis.
source
2. A test used to measure or reduce the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. This is usually used also to confirm diagnosis of IH. Under local anaesthetic a needle is inserted into the lower back under sterile conditions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
1. A special imaging technique used to image internal structures of the body, particularly the soft tissues. An MRI image is often superior to a normal x-ray image.
It uses the inflience of a large magnet to polarize hydrogen atoms in the tissues and then monitors the summation of the spinning energies within living cells.
Images are very clear and are particularly good for soft tissue, brain, and spinal cord, joints and abdomen. These scans may be used in detecting some cancers and following their progress.
source
Papilledema
1. Oedema of the optic Disc (papilla), most commonly due to increased intracranial pressure, malignant hypertension, or thrombosis of the central retinal vein. Synonym: Choked disc
source
Pseudotumor Cerebri
1. Idiopathic, increased serebrospinal fluid production, increased intracranial pressure, papilledema. source
2. An American term for BIH. For more info see PTC/BIH
Shunt
1. To turn to one side, to divert, to bypass. A surgically created anastomosis, also the operation of forming a shunt.
source
2. In IH, a shunt is sometimes created by surgery to move excess fluid (CSF) from a place of high pressure to where it can drain away. There are several types. For more info, see Treatments.
Spinal Tap
2. More commonly known in Australia as a Lumbar Puncture (LP). A test used to measure or reduce the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. This is usually used also to confirm diagnosis of IH. Under local anaesthetic a needle is inserted into the lower back under sterile conditions.
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This page last updated 7/9/2003
Created by Julia S. more is less?!
