Optic nerve enlargement and chronic visual loss

A multi-center case series of sarcoid optic neuropathy

OBJECTIVE

The diagnosis of sarcoid optic neuropathy is time-sensitive, as delayed treatment risks irreversible vision loss. We sought to analyze its characteristics and outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a multi-center retrospective study of sarcoid optic neuropathy among 5 USA medical centers. Inclusion criteria were: 1) clinical optic neuropathy; 2) optic nerve/sheath enhancement on neuroimaging; 3) pathological confirmation of systemic or nervous system sarcoidosis.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients were included. The median onset age of sarcoid optic neuropathy was 50 years (range, 17-70 years) and 71% were female. The median visual acuity at nadir in the most affected eye was 20/80 (range, 20/20 to no-light-perception). Thirty-four of 50 (68%) patients had radiologic evidence of other nervous system involvement and 20 (39%) patients had symptoms/signs of other cranial nerve dysfunction. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed an elevated white blood cell count in 22 of 31 (71%) patients (median: 14/μL; range: 1-643/μL). Pathologic confirmation of sarcoidosis was by biopsy of systemic/pulmonary site, 34 (67%); optic nerve/sheath, 9 (18%); or other nervous system region, 8 (16%). Forty patients improved with treatment (78%), 98% receiving corticosteroids and 65% receiving steroid-sparing immunosuppressants, yet 11/46 patients (24%) had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcoid optic neuropathy frequently occurs with other clinical and radiologic abnormalities caused by neurosarcoidosis and diagnostic confirmation occasionally requires optic nerve/sheath biopsy. Improvement with treatment is common but most patients have some residual visual disability. Improved recognition and a more expeditious diagnosis and treatment may spare patients from permanent vision loss.

Abdominal sarcoidosis presenting as bilateral simultaneous optic disc granulomas

A 24-year-old male presents with diminution of vision in both eyes of acute onset with floaters. He has a history of fever of unknown origin. Examination revealed bilateral optic disc granulomas with mild vitritis. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme was found to be elevated and tuberculin skin test was negative. Computed tomography scan of the chest showed clear lung fields with no hilar lymphadenopathy but mildly enlarged pretracheal lymph nodes. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed multiple enlarged abdominal lymph nodes with hepatosplenomegaly, and ultrasound-guided biopsy of one of these lymph nodes showed chronic granulomatous inflammation consistent with sarcoidosis. Immunosuppressive therapy resulted in resolution of ocular inflammation with no recurrence.

[Neurosarcoidosis of the anterior visual pathway (a case report and literature review)]

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown nature. Patients often present with pulmonary, skin, eye, and orbital lesions. Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is accompanied by granulomatous leptomeningitis and damage to the basal brain structures with formation of granulomas near the cranial nerves, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, cavernous sinuses, optic chiasm, and intracranial optic nerves. The optic nerves can be affected independently of the other CNS regions, which may be the first manifestation of the disease. The article presents two clinical cases of sarcoidosis affecting the anterior visual pathway. Diagnosis of the disease was associated with certain difficulties. A biopsy revealed a sarcoidosis lesion.

Persistent visual impairment in multiple sclerosis: prevalence, mechanisms and resulting disability

Objective:

The objective of this article is to evaluate in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients the prevalence of persistent complaints of visual disturbances and the mechanisms and resulting functional disability of persistent visual complaints (PVCs).

Methods:

Firstly, the prevalence of PVCs was calculated in 303 MS patients. MS-related data of patients with or without PVCs were compared. Secondly, 70 patients with PVCs performed an extensive neuro-ophthalmologic assessment and a vision-related quality of life questionnaire, the National Eye Institute Visual Functionary Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25).

Results:

PVCs were reported in 105 MS patients (34.6%). Patients with PVCs had more frequently primary progressive MS (30.5% vs 13.6%) and more neuro-ophthalmologic relapses (1.97 vs 1.36) than patients without PVCs. In the mechanisms/disability study, an afferent visual and an ocular-motor pathways dysfunction were respectively diagnosed in 41 and 59 patients, mostly related to bilateral optic neuropathy and bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. The NEI-VFQ 25 score was poor and significantly correlated with the number of impaired neuro-ophthalmologic tests.

Conclusion:

Our study emphasizes the high prevalence of PVC in MS patients. Regarding the nature of neuro-ophthalmologic deficit, our results suggest that persistent optic neuropathy, as part of the progressive evolution of the disease, is not rare. We also demonstrate that isolated ocular motor dysfunctions induce visual disability in daily life.

Wilbrand's knee: does it exist?

OBJECTIVE

In 1904, Hermann Wilbrand reported that nasal ON fibers form a loop into the contralateral ON, subsequently referred to as Wilbrand's knee. He had further theorized that a lesion affecting Wilbrand's knee would develop a distinct visual field defect characterized by an ipsilateral central scotoma with a contralateral superotemporal visual field defect. We present clinical evidence that disputes the existence of Wilbrand's knee.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 3 patients whose ONs were divided at the ON-chiasm junction is presented. Two patients had an ONS meningioma and the other patient had sarcoidosis of the ON. Resection of the lesion and the ON up to the nerve-chiasm junction was done to prevent the disease from extending into the OC and the contralateral ON. The patients had detailed neuro-ophthalmologic evaluations preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

After the resection of the ON at the ON-chiasm junction in the 3 patients, junctional scotoma could not be detected by visual perimetry.

CONCLUSION

No clinical perimetric evidence was found to support the existence of Wilbrand's knee in the anterior visual pathway.

Chiasmal syndromes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review of the more recent literature and testing strategies in patients with chiasmal syndromes focuses on the clinical evaluation and management of these patients. Visual loss is often the initial manifestation of disorders involving the optic chiasm. Hemianopic defects and preferential involvement of the temporal visual field are the earliest and most common visual deficits. Progression of the lesion may cause compression of adjacent structures, including the optic nerves and cavernous sinuses, and may result in more profound visual loss, ocular motor deficits, and hypopituitarism.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although a number of modalities have been used to assess visual function in patients with chiasmal disorders, perimetry remains the most effective means of detecting and following the visual deficit.

SUMMARY

Most chiasmal syndromes can be categorized as intrinsic (thickening of the chiasm itself) or extrinsic (compression of the chiasm from an adjacent structure). Magnetic resonance imaging is the best mode of neuroimaging for most chiasmal lesions and may also provide clues to the etiology of an isolated chiasmal syndrome.

Sarcoidosis of the Anterior Visual Pathway: 24 New Cases

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical spectrum and a rational approach to the diagnosis of anterior visual pathway sarcoidosis.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of all patients examined in neuro-ophthalmic consultation by 1 author from 1989 to 1998 with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

RESULTS

There were 24 patients (17 female, 7 male, mean age 40 years) with anterior visual pathway sarcoidosis, 17 (71%) of whom were not previously known to have sarcoidosis. Visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to NLP. Normal fundi were observed in 15%. Among the 85% who had fundus abnormalities, pallor was present in 55%, disc edema in 26%, periphlebitis/sheathing in 14%, and optic disc granuloma in 10%. Ten patients (42%) had uveitis, active in only 3 (13%). An elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was present in 16 (76%) of 21 patients tested; evidence of sarcoidosis on chest radiograph was present in 13 (72%) of 18; gallium scanning was abnormal in 13 (93%) of 14; neuroimaging abnormalities of the optic nerves, chiasm, or tract were present in 16 (70%) of 23; lymphocytic pleocytosis or elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein was identified in 14 (88%) of 16 patients, with both values elevated in 7 (44%) patients. Histologic confirmation was obtained in 13 (81%) of 16 who underwent biopsy; in the remaining patients, diagnosis was based entirely on clinical and laboratory evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior visual pathway disease may be underrecognized as a presentation of sarcoidosis. Classic fundus findings of periphlebitis and optic granuloma are typically absent. An aggressive diagnostic evaluation may help establish the diagnosis early in its course.

Big muscles and big nerves

For 11 years, a 50-year-old woman with euthyroid Graves' disease experienced intermittent exacerbations of her orbitopathy associated with a decline in visual acuity. On each occasion, treatment with systemic corticosteroids led to prompt recovery of vision. Upon referral for consideration for orbital decompressive surgery, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning detected bilateral optic-nerve sheath meningiomas, as well as typical findings of Graves' disease. Orbital radiation therapy led to stabilization of visual function and orbital findings, eliminating the need for systemic steroids. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Graves' disease associated with bilateral optic nerve sheath meningiomas.

Sarcoid masquerading as optic nerve sheath meningioma

Sarcoid manifesting as an optic nerve tumor without evidence of systemic disease is uncommon. Throughout a 2-year period, a 22-year-old white woman had progressive monocular loss of vision to the level of no light perception. Optic atrophy but no uveitis was noted in the affected eye. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed thickening and enhancement of the apical optic nerve, with "tram-tracking." The presumptive diagnosis was optic nerve sheath meningioma; however, a biopsy specimen from the optic nerve revealed sarcoid. Extensive postoperative investigations revealed no systemic sarcoidosis. To our knowledge, 17 cases similar to ours, with the diagnosis proved by optic nerve biopsy, have been previously reported in the English-language literature. Most of these were mistaken preoperatively for optic nerve sheath meningioma. None of the patients had evidence of systemic sarcoidosis on initial postoperative testing. Neuroimaging, serum level of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and clinical characteristics such as age, race, sex, and optochoroidal collaterals do not distinguish optic nerve sheath meningioma from sarcoid of the optic nerve. In the absence of uveitis or systemic involvement, optic nerve sarcoid manifesting as an orbital tumor is virtually impossible to diagnose without results of biopsy.