papilledema as a presentation of spinal cord tumor: a case report

purpose: to report a case of spinal cord tumor with visual symptoms and papilledema due to increased intracranial pressure. patient and findings: a 24-year-old woman was referred because of recent blurred vision in both eyes. visual acuity was 20/25 and 20/20 in the right and left eyes, respectively. fundoscopy revealed bilateral papilledema. other ophthalmic examinations were normal. visual fields showed blind spot enlargement and brain ct scan revealed dilated ventricles. ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted for the patient with a diagnosis of hydrocephalus. ten weeks later, she returned with low back pain and lower extremity weakness. lumbosacral mri revealed a tumor in the region of l1-l4. the patient underwent surgical removal of the tumor and histopathologic study showed mixopapillary ependymoma. conclusion: increased intracranial pressure and papilledema without evidence of a space occupying intracranial lesion may be the presenting sign of spinal cord tumors.