USC Intracranial Pressure Center of Excellence

Our multidisciplinary team is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating all types of intracranial pressure disorders, including rare and complex cases.

USC Intracranial Pressure Center of Excellence

Our multidisciplinary team is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating all types of intracranial pressure disorders, including rare and complex cases.

Donate

Support our efforts to advance eye care.

Give a gift

Insurance

Keck Medicine of USC accepts most insurance plans, working in collaboration with many local and national managed care networks.

Find out more

A Team Approach to Intracranial Pressure Care

Our USC Intracranial Pressure Center of Excellence team delivers expert care and treatment for disorders of high intracranial pressure. These conditions are caused by irregular pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds and protects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms of intracranial pressure can include headaches, vision changes, tinnitus and other neurological issues.

We bring together doctors who specialize in neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and radiology to provide you with streamlined and complete care. Our multidisciplinary team is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating all types of intracranial pressure disorders, including rare and complex cases.

We understand that the road to diagnosis can be difficult and that the symptoms of intracranial pressure can impact your quality of life. No matter how challenging your condition is, our experts will create a treatment plan designed to help you feel and live better.

Conditions We Treat

Treatments We Offer

  • Lumbar puncture and imaging to diagnose intracranial hypertension
  • Medical management of intracranial hypertension
  • Nerve sheath fenestration, shunt or stent surgery to reduce intracranial hypertension

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set up an appointment?

In order to schedule an appointment, we need your previous clinic notes, radiology reports and a ​​disc containing your scans. You will also need a referral from another doctor before receiving care at the USC Intracranial Pressure Center of Excellence.

Schedule an Appointment online or call us at (323) 442-6335.

 

Can I be seen without a referral?

Unfortunately, no. Disorders of intracranial pressure are uncommon, but symptoms like headache and vision changes are very common. We require evaluation and referral by another physician before we can schedule your appointment at the USC Intracranial Pressure Center of Excellence.

 

How will you decide which doctors I see?

We will review your notes and scans from the referring doctor in order to identify the best doctor for you to see. This process takes time, and our clinic is in high demand, but we will see you as soon as possible and schedule an urgent appointment, if necessary. If you ever become concerned that your condition is an emergency, and you can’t wait for an appointment, call 911 or go to the emergency room for a more rapid evaluation.

 

How will you confirm that I have intracranial hypertension?

To confirm the diagnosis of intracranial hypertension, our doctors will need a thorough description of your symptoms. A close examination of your neurological function and your eyes will be necessary. Tests of your vision, including a visual field and optical coherence tomography, will help determine whether any visual changes are due to high intracranial pressure or an alternative cause. A scan of your head will be needed to evaluate for changes in your brain, optic nerves or skull. Finally, most patients will need a lumbar puncture to confirm that the pressure in the fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord is actually high.

 

What should I bring to my first appointment?

In order to diagnose your condition and avoid repeating tests or procedures, bring records of visits with previous providers. While patients are often told that records will be sent to Keck Medicine of USC, this often isn’t the case. If possible, bring copies of any CT or MRI scans on a disc. We want to use the best information to support your care, so please bring paper copies of your results or discs containing your scans to your appointment with us.

Donate

Support our efforts to advance eye care.

Give a gift

Insurance

Keck Medicine of USC accepts most insurance plans, working in collaboration with many local and national managed care networks.

Find out more

Expert Treatment for All Types of Intracranial Pressure Disorders

Our center gives you access to physicians from many specialties, who work in close collaboration to provide you with faster, personalized care and treatment.

Our doctors are experienced in the care of rare and complex intracranial disorders and regularly treat patients who cannot be treated at other medical centers.

We are an academic medical center, giving you access to state-of-the-art equipment, breakthrough treatment therapies and a full range of clinical trials.

Arun Paul Amar, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor
Specialties
Neurosurgery, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Intracranial Pressure

Joni K. Doherty, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck ...
Specialties
Neurotology, Otolaryngology, Intracranial Pressure  View more

Jeffrey Alan Gluckstein, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Intracranial Pressure, Eye Thyroid Disease  View more

Kimberly K. Gokoffski, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Strabismus, Intracranial Pressure  View more
Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery
Specialties
Intracranial Pressure, Functional Neurosurgery

William J. Mack, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Neurosurgery
Specialties
Neurosurgery, Interventional Radiology, Endovascular Neurosurgery  View more
Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology (Clinician Educato ...
Specialties
Headache Neurology, Intracranial Pressure, Neurology

Arun Paul Amar, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor
Specialties
Neurosurgery, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Intracranial Pressure

Joni K. Doherty, MD

Accepting new patients
Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck ...
Specialties
Neurotology, Otolaryngology, Intracranial Pressure  View more

Jeffrey Alan Gluckstein, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Intracranial Pressure, Eye Thyroid Disease  View more

Kimberly K. Gokoffski, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Strabismus, Intracranial Pressure  View more
Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery
Specialties
Intracranial Pressure, Functional Neurosurgery

William J. Mack, MD

Accepting new patients
Professor of Neurosurgery
Specialties
Neurosurgery, Interventional Radiology, Endovascular Neurosurgery  View more
Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology (Clinician Educato ...
Specialties
Headache Neurology, Intracranial Pressure, Neurology

Jeffrey Alan Gluckstein, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Intracranial Pressure, Eye Thyroid Disease  View more

Kimberly K. Gokoffski, MD

Accepting new patients
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Strabismus, Intracranial Pressure  View more

Latest News & Articles