Sarcoid optic neuropathy
Gudeman, S.K.; Selhorst, J.B.; Susac, J.O.; Waybright, E.A.
Neurology 32(6): 597-603
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3878 PMID: 7201090 Document Number: 194311
Three patients presented with unilateral progressive optic neuropathy. None of these patients had signs or symptoms referable to the chiasm or eye, thus confining their decline in vision to the optic nerve. Clinical and neuroradiographic evidence suggested a meningioma involving the optic nerve at the orbital-canalicular junction in 1 patient and the intracranial optic nerve in another patient. Surgical exploration in both patients, however, revealed a noncaseating granuloma. Decline in vision from granulomatous invasion of the retrobulbar optic nerve is an uncommon manifestation of sarcoidosis. Review of these patients' findings suggests that a nonsurgical diagnosis of sarcoid optic neuropathy may have been tenable.