This narrative review discusses the challenges faced by an otolaryngologist to differentiate elevated intracranial pressure (eICP), migraines and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Facial pain, pressure, aural fullness, muffled hearing and tinnitus are often common symptoms described by patients with all three conditions. The article describes three challenging cases which were misdiagnosed as eustachian tube dysfunction, chronic rhinosinusitis with middle ear effusion and cerebrovascular event respectively. Further evaluation of these patients revealed eICP. The authors suggest that when symptoms do not resolve with topical intranasal treatment or migraine therapies, patients should be evaluated for eICP. They recommend a close collaboration between otolaryngologists and neurologists is essential for diagnosis and management. This paper highlights the importance of clinical suspicion and differential diagnosis during evaluation of this patient population.
Elevated intracranial pressure versus migraines versus sinusitis?
Reviewed by Gauri Mankekar
The challenge of diagnosing intracranial pressure elevations as an Otolaryngologist.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gauri Mankekar
Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
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