MedPix® Medical Image Database - Print -
Print Date: June 19, 2013, 4:38 pm
TitleBilateral Optic Gliomas
Text

Lesions/Condition: Optic Glioma

Cell of Origin: Glial cells of varying differentiation

Associations/Predisposing Factors: Neurofibromatosis I in children. The adult form has no association with neurofibromatosis.

Common Locations: Anterior – orbital, infracannalicular, intracranial
Posterior – chiasmal, hypothalamic, anterior third ventricle

Demographics: most commonly in children (90% before 20, 75% before 10)

Radiology: MRI - A tubular thickening of the optic nerve and chiasm
A suprasellar tumor with contiguous optic nerve expansion
A suprasellar tumor with optic tract involvement

Prognosis and Treatment: Children have a good prognosis, worse in patients with chiasmal lesions.
Spontaneous regression reported in some children with NF1.
Adults have poorer prognosis, these lesions are either anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme and are locally aggressive.
Treatment is often chemotherapy initially with subsequent surgical resection.
Radiation is effective, but neurologic sequelae prevents widespread use.
References:Alvord, EC Jr, Lofton, S. Gliomas of the optic nerve or chiasm. Outcome by patients' age, tumor site, and treatment. J Neurosurg 1988; 68:85.
Benes, V, Julisova, I, Julis, I. Our treatment philosophy of gliomas of the anterior visual pathways. Childs Nerv Syst 1990; 6:75.
Habiby, R, Silverman, B, Listernick, R, Charrow, J. Precocious puberty in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. J Pediatr 1995; 126:364.
Imes, RK, Hoyt, WF. Magnetic resonance imaging signs of optic nerve gliomas in neurofibromatosis 1. Am J Ophthalmol 1991; 111:729.
ContributorPhilip A Gaudreau (Uniformed Services University)
Peer ReviewerAlice Boyd Smith (Uniformed Services University)
Record Number : 8508
Created2007-11-19 21:12:46-05
Modified2007-12-02 17:47:26.413862-05
Category:Neoplasm, glial
Location:Nerve, central
Sublocation:None Selected
MedPix® Medical Image Database
Content Text and Images may be Copyright © 1999 - 2006 by the Original Contributors
MedPix® is a Registered Trademark of USUHS
The MedPix® Database Engine is Patented - USPTO No. 7,080,098
Portions of MedPix® are Copyright © 1999 - 2013 by J.G. Smirniotopoulos, M.D. & H. Irvine, M.D.
The MedPix® Classification Schema Copyright © 1999 - 2013 by J.G.Smirniotopoulos,M.D.
The MedPix® Classification Schema copyright © 1999-2004 by J.G.Smirniotopoulos,M.D.