A diagnosis of raised intracranial pressure is made at the patient's bedside. An MRI or CT scan is often used to determine the cause and confirm the diagnosis. Intracranial pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Intracranial pressure may be measured during a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). It may also be measured directly by a calibrated device. This device is drilled through the skull to measure the pressure on the surface of the brain, or a catheter is inserted to allow it to measure the pressure inside the brain. |