Pseudotumor cerebri
What the FAA's documents say about pseudotumor cerebri, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
Covers: All classes
Show the FAA's words: which classes the FAA's table covers
PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI All Classes
Short version
The FAA's table has one row for it.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Pseudotumor CerebriPseudotumor cerebri, idiopathic intracranial hypertension | Defers to the FAA | Special Issuance |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Pseudotumor cerebri
- Pseudotumor Cerebri · Special Issuance
Pseudotumor cerebri, idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The table gives its previous name as benign intracranial hypertension. The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
Pseudotumor Cerebri Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (Previous name: Benign Intracranial Hypertension) Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance Annotate (elements or findings) in Block 60.
The FAA pathways for pseudotumor cerebri
Your step-by-step plan
Step 1: The neurological evaluation
From your treating neurologist.Within 90 days before the examA current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation, from a clinic visit with your treating neurologist no more than 90 days before the exam.
Show the FAA's words: The neurological evaluation
1. A current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation generated from a clinic visit with the treating neurologist no more than 90 days before the AME exam.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: The eye specialist
A progress note, and visual field graphs.Progress note from your ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist
Within 90 days before the examA current, detailed progress note from a clinic visit with your treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist, no more than 90 days before the exam.
It must include
- A detailed summary of the history of the condition
- Current medications, dosage, and side effects, if any
- Physical exam findings
- Results of any testing performed
- Diagnosis
- Assessment and plan (prognosis)
- Follow-up
Visual field graphs (24-2 or 30-2)
Visual field graphs (24-2 or 30-2), with narrative interpretation by your treating eye specialist.
Show the FAA's words: The eye specialist
3. A current, detailed Clinical Progress Note generated from a clinic visit with the treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist no more than 90 days before the AME exam. It must include: A detailed summary of the history of the condition; current medications, dosage, and side effects (if any); physical exam findings; results of any testing performed; diagnosis; assessment and plan (prognosis); and follow-up.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
4. Visual Field graphs (24-2 or 30-2) with narrative interpretation by the treating eye specialist.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 3: Imaging
An MRI of the brain, and the radiology reports.MRI of the brain
Within 90 days before the examAn MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the exam.
Radiology reports
Radiology report(s): the interpretive report(s) of all diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI, MRA, MRV, X-ray, ultrasound, or others) performed.
Show the FAA's words: Imaging
2. *MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the AME exam.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
7. *Radiology report(s). The interpretive report(s) of all diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI, MRA, MRV, X-ray, ultrasound, or others) performed.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
*For MRI or other diagnostic imaging: Submit the interpretive report on paper and imaging on CD in DICOM readable format (there must be a file named 'DICOMDIR' in the root directory of the CD-ROM). Please verify the CD will display the images before sending. You may wish to retain a copy of all films as a safeguard if lost in the mail.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 4: Surgery and hospital records
If surgery was performed, and records from any hospitalization.The table's fifth item, if surgery was performed
If surgery was performed.
If surgery was performed.
If surgery was performed: the table's fifth item reads that it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications.
If a shunt was placed as part of treatment
- A minimum recovery period of two (2) years is required
Hospital records
From any hospitalization.
From any hospitalization.
Records from any hospitalization.
To include
- Admission history and physical
- Hospital discharge summary
- The EMS or ambulance run sheet, if applicable
- Hospital consultant reports, such as neurology, cardiology, internal medicine, or other specialists
- Lab reports, including all drug or alcohol testing performed
- Operative or procedure reports, to include lumbar punctures
- Pathology reports
Typically not sufficient as the discharge summary
- Not: The patient portal notes or after visit summary (AVS) that can be printed from an electronic medical record
Show the FAA's words: Surgery and hospital records
5. If surgery was performed, it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
• If a shunt was placed as part of treatment, a minimum recovery period of two (2) years is required.
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
6. Records from any hospitalization to include:
• Admission History and Physical; • Hospital discharge summary. (Typically, the patient portal notes or after visit summary (AVS) that can be printed from an electronic medical record are NOT sufficient for pilot medical certification purposes.); • Emergency Medical Services (EMS)/ ambulance run sheet (if applicable); • Hospital consultant report(s) (such as neurology, cardiology, internal medicine, or other specialists); • Lab report(s) including all drug or alcohol testing performed; • Operative/procedure report(s); to include lumbar puncture(s); and • Pathology report(s)
FAA source: Pseudotumor Cerebri. FAA date 25 January 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
Pseudotumor CerebriDefers to the FAASpecial Issuance
The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Pseudotumor Cerebri · Special Issuance
Pseudotumor cerebri, idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The table gives its previous name as benign intracranial hypertension. The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
Pseudotumor Cerebri Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (Previous name: Benign Intracranial Hypertension) Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance Annotate (elements or findings) in Block 60.
If the examiner defersSpecial Issuance
The table marks its one row, pseudotumor cerebri, DEFER.
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1. A current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation, from a clinic visit with the treating neurologist no more than 90 days before the exam.
- Item 2. An MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the exam.
- Item 3. A current, detailed clinical progress note from a clinic visit with the treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist no more than 90 days before the exam, including what the table lists.
- Item 4. Visual field graphs (24-2 or 30-2) with narrative interpretation by the treating eye specialist.
- Item 5. If surgery was performed, the table's fifth item, which reads that it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications.
- Item 6. Records from any hospitalization, to include what the table lists.
- Item 7. Radiology report(s), the interpretive report(s) of all diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI, MRA, MRV, X-ray, ultrasound, or others) performed.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
The table marks its one row, pseudotumor cerebri, DEFER.
Pseudotumor Cerebri Idiopathic intracranial hypertension … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1
A current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation, from a clinic visit with the treating neurologist no more than 90 days before the exam.
1. A current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation generated from a clinic visit with the treating neurologist no more than 90 days before the AME exam.
- Item 2
An MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the exam.
2. *MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the AME exam.
- Item 3
A current, detailed clinical progress note from a clinic visit with the treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist no more than 90 days before the exam, including what the table lists.
3. A current, detailed Clinical Progress Note generated from a clinic visit with the treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist no more than 90 days before the AME exam. It must include:
- Item 4
Visual field graphs (24-2 or 30-2) with narrative interpretation by the treating eye specialist.
4. Visual Field graphs (24-2 or 30-2) with narrative interpretation by the treating eye specialist.
- Item 5
If surgery was performed, the table's fifth item, which reads that it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications.
5. If surgery was performed, it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications.
- Item 6
Records from any hospitalization, to include what the table lists.
6. Records from any hospitalization to include:
- Item 7
Radiology report(s), the interpretive report(s) of all diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI, MRA, MRV, X-ray, ultrasound, or others) performed.
7. *Radiology report(s). The interpretive report(s) of all diagnostic imaging (CT scan, MRI, MRA, MRV, X-ray, ultrasound, or others) performed.
What a Special Issuance is
The Guide says an Authorization for Special Issuance, valid for a specified period, may be granted at the Federal Air Surgeon's discretion to a person who does not meet the established medical standards, if the person shows to the satisfaction of the Federal Air Surgeon that the duties authorized by the class of certificate applied for can be performed without endangering public safety during the period the Authorization would be in force.
How the FAA pathways workGood to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
What a progress note must include
In most cases it should come from a visit with the treating physician no more than 90 days ago, and cover the history, medications with dosages and side effects, exam findings, test results, diagnosis, assessment and plan, prognosis and follow-up. The FAA's sheet says to make sure the physician adds the prognosis. A portal note or an After Visit Summary that does not meet these criteria is not enough, and neither is a simple "ok to fly" letter. The FAA's documents also call it a status report.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
your patient portal to print out “notes” or an “After Visit Summary (AVS).” … Patient Portal notes or an AVS that do not meet the criteria listed below for a detailed Clinical Progress Note are NOT sufficient for FAA purposes. … To be “current,” in MOST CASES, the detailed Clinical Progress Note should be from an evaluation in which you saw your treating physician no more than 90 days ago. … It Must include the following items: … A summary of the history of the condition, … Current medications, dosages, and side effects (if any); … Clinical exam findings; … Results of any testing performed; … Diagnosis; … Assessment and Plan; … Prognosis (This item may not be on a standard progress note, make sure your physician adds this information.); and … Follow-up … Please note: A letter stating, “Mr. Smith is ok to fly” (or any other simple note), is NOT a current, detailed Clinical Progress Note and is NOT acceptable. … You may also see this called a “current status report” or “status report” in current FAA Guidance. Any reference to a “status report” equals the criteria listed on this sheet.
A neurologist and an eye specialist
The table asks for a neurological evaluation from the treating neurologist, a progress note from the treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist, and visual field graphs (24-2 or 30-2) with narrative interpretation by the treating eye specialist.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
1. A current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation generated from a clinic visit with the treating neurologist no more than 90 days before the AME exam. … 3. A current, detailed Clinical Progress Note generated from a clinic visit with the treating ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist no more than 90 days before the AME exam. … 4. Visual Field graphs (24-2 or 30-2) with narrative interpretation by the treating eye specialist.
A shunt means a recovery period of at least two years
The table says that if a shunt was placed as part of treatment, a minimum recovery period of two (2) years is required.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
• If a shunt was placed as part of treatment, a minimum recovery period of two (2) years is required.
The fifth item does not say what it refers to
The table's fifth item reads that if surgery was performed, it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications. The item does not say what "it" refers to.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 4
5. If surgery was performed, it should indicate follow-up results and note any complications.
The MRI is from the last 90 days
The table asks for an MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the exam, and for the interpretive report on paper and the imaging on CD.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 5
2. *MRI of the brain performed no more than 90 days before the AME exam. … *For MRI or other diagnostic imaging: Submit the interpretive report on paper and imaging on CD in DICOM readable format
FAA sources
Every FAA document this page relies on, with the FAA's own date and the date Crosscheck last read it. The documents to print open at the FAA, so they are always the FAA's current ones.
This reports what the FAA has published. It is not medical advice, and it does not say how the FAA or an examiner will decide a case.