Primary bilateral optic nerve sarcoidosis

Cem Y., Basar A., Ozlem O., Nilgul Y., Selcuk P.

NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY, vol.29, no.4, pp.165-172, 2005 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 29 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2005
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/01658100500218038
  • Journal Name: NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.165-172
  • Keywords: corticosteroid, granulomatous disease, optic nerve, sarcoidosis, NEUROSARCOIDOSIS, MENINGIOMA
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The nervous system is involved in 5%-15% of patients. In 1%-5% of patients, sarcoidosis affects the optic nerve in some manner. Sarcoid manifesting as an isolated tumor of the optic nerve is uncommon. We report here a 50-year-old woman with primary bilateral optic nerve sarcoidosis. She had a history of progressive, painless visual loss over a 2-month period. Her cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed diffuse thickening and enhancement of the optic chiasm affecting the pre-chiasmatic optic nerves. Surgery was performed for histopathological diagnosis and decompression of the optic nerve. Analysis of a biopsy specimen confirmed a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, and the patient was treated successfully with corticosteroids.