Etiology of papilledema

• Papilledema refers to passive disc edema caused by increased intracranial pressure
• It is usually bilateral, although unilateral papilledema can exist in certain conditions

Conditions causing increased intracranial tension and papilloedema:

• Congenital conditions
  • craniosynostosis
  • aqueductal stenosis
• Intracranial space occupying lesions (ICSOL’s)
  • especially lesions in the midbrain, cerebellum, occipital lobe and parietal lobe (as they tend to cause greater block to drainage of CSF)
  • Fast growing lesions result in rapid development of papilledema
• Intracranial haemorrhage
• Intracranial infections like meningitis, encephalitis
• Cerebral oedema following blunt injury to head
• Block in arachnoid granulations
• Systemic conditions
  • Malignant hypertension
  • Pregnancy induced hypertension
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension