Optic Nerve Glioma

Optic nerve glioma is a slow-growing benign tumor. It may affect one or both optic nerves as well as the optic chiasm. The cause seems to be unknown. It usually occurs in children under the age of 20.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to: involuntary eyeball movement, vision loss, squinting, and one or both eyes bulging out. If not treated, optic nerve glioma may cause permanent loss of vision which may be limited to peripheral.

Different ways to diagnose optic nerve gliomas are with a cerebral angiography, CT or MRI. The tissue may be removed during surgery or a biopsy of the tissue may be taken to determing the type of tumor. Visual field tests are also used to determine the location and how invasive the tumor may be. An MRI  with contrast (gadolinium), T1 weighted with fat saturation is the best diagnostic test for visualizing optic nerve gliomas.

Treatment may include a complete removal of the tissue. Partial removal may also be utilized to reduce the size of the tumor and the pressure it's causing. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may also be an effective mode of tretment. Corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce swelling and inflammation while radiation therapy is being used.

Pubmedhealth (March 2010) Optic nerve glioma. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002019/

Woodcock, Richard (June 2009). Optic nerve glioma imaging. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/383533-overview