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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Neuroophthalmol. 2021 Sep 1;41(3):379–384. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001373

Table 1:

Risks and Benefits of doing or not doing a lumbar puncture in suspected cases of IIH

Risks Benefits
Perform LP

  • Procedure complications

  • False positive/negative results

  • Diagnostic confirmation

  • Short term treatment of ICP
Defer LP

  • Failure to diagnose normal ICP (necessitating evaluation for other causes of symptoms)

  • Failure to diagnose secondary cause of high ICP

  • Inappropriate medical or surgical treatment due to incorrect diagnosis

  • No procedure complications

  • Money saved

  • Resources saved