Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What is the clinical finding associated with optic disc swelling due to increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?

1. Papilledema

2. Retinal detachment

3. Optic neuritis

4. Optic atrophy

The correct answer is: Papilledema

The correct response is associated with the phenomenon known as papilledema, which refers specifically to the swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure. This clinical finding indicates that there is an elevated pressure within the cranial cavity, which can result from various conditions such as tumors, hemorrhage, or infections. Papilledema typically presents with visual symptoms or findings during an eye examination where the optic disc appears swollen, and the margins are blurred. This occurs because the increased pressure in the skull compresses the optic nerve and disrupts normal blood flow, leading to edema around the optic nerve head. In contrast, other conditions listed do not reflect the specific clinical finding associated with increased ICP. Retinal detachment involves the separation of the retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium, which is a distinct condition and not related to intracranial pressure. Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve often associated with multiple sclerosis, leading to pain and visual loss but is not characterized by disc swelling due to ICP. Lastly, optic atrophy refers to the degeneration of the optic nerve, which can occur as a result of various insults, including chronic pressure but does not result in the acute swelling observed in papilledema. Therefore