====== Intracranial hypertension diagnosis ======

An MRI or CT scan of the head can usually determine the cause of increased [[intracranial pressure]] and confirm the diagnosis.

Intracranial pressure may be measured during a [[spinal tap]] ([[lumbar puncture]]). It can also be measured directly by using a device that is drilled through the skull or a tube (catheter) that is inserted into a hollow area in the brain called the ventricle.
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The diagnosis of [[raised intracranial pressure]] (ICP) is important in many critically ill patients. The optic nerve sheath is contiguous with the subarachnoid space; thus, an increase in ICP results in a corresponding increase in the [[optic nerve sheath diameter]]. 

Ocular sonography shows good diagnostic test accuracy for detecting raised ICP compared to CT: specifically, high sensitivity for ruling out raised ICP in a low-risk group and high specificity for ruling in raised ICP in a high-risk group. This noninvasive point-of-care method could lead to rapid interventions for raised ICP, assist centers without CT, and monitor patients during transport or as part of a protocol to reduce CT use
((Ohle R, McIsaac SM, Woo MY, Perry JJ. Sonography of the Optic Nerve Sheath
Diameter for Detection of Raised Intracranial Pressure Compared to Computed
Tomography: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Ultrasound Med. 2015
Jul;34(7):1285-94. doi: 10.7863/ultra.34.7.1285. Review. PubMed PMID: 26112632.
)).

===== Intracranial pressure monitoring =====


see [[Intracranial pressure monitoring]].

===== Noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring =====


see [[Noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring]].

see [[Optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasonography]].