The Relationship among Obesity, Intracranial Hypertension, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder characterized by elevated intracranial pressure without identifiable lesion or secondary cause. Patients can often present with otolaryngologic manifestations of IIH, such as pulsatile tinnitus, aural fullness, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Obesity plays an important role as a risk factor for both IIH and CSF leak as similar pathophysiological processes underly both presentations. Understanding the nuanced presentation of this condition is important for the otolaryngologist who routinely evaluates patients with these symptoms and has implications for management decisions. In this article, we discuss the relationship among obesity, IIH, and CSF leak.