Clinical manifestations of increased intracranial pressure caused by brain cancer

Increased intracranial pressure is one of the typical clinical manifestations of brain cancer. Studies have found that more than 90% of brain cancer patients have increased brain tumor volume and tissue edema, which can lead to increased intracranial pressure, manifested as headache, nausea, vomiting, visual edema and vision loss, mental symptoms, brain herniation, etc.

1. Headache: Headache is the most common manifestation of increased intracranial pressure. It is generally a persistent headache that worsens with chronic episodes. It is mostly located in the forehead and temporal areas. The headache is often more severe in the morning and may be normal during the intervals.

2. Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting caused by increased intracranial pressure is often not related to diet. The more severe the headache, the more intense the vomiting. Lesions located in the posterior cranial fossa and the fourth ventricle are particularly likely to cause vomiting. Patients with chronic increased intracranial pressure may only experience vomiting.

3. Optic disc edema and visual impairment: Optic disc edema is the most objective and important sign of increased intracranial pressure. Most patients have no obvious subjective symptoms, only transient blurred vision, abnormal color vision, or short-term vision loss, usually due to amblyopia. Frequent amblyopia indicates that the increased intracranial pressure persists.

4. Mental symptoms: Increased intracranial pressure may also cause mental symptoms such as dizziness, diplopia, confusion, mental restlessness or apathy, epilepsy, and even coma.

Tips: Increased intracranial pressure

Intracranial pressure refers to the pressure measured by a tube of a certain inner diameter connected to a lumbar puncture when the patient is in a horizontal lying position and the body is relaxed. If the intracranial pressure in a normal adult exceeds 1.96 kPa (200 mmH2O), it is considered to be increased.