Article
Unilateral visual loss related to chiasmal cavernoma
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Authors
Published: | May 4, 2005 |
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Outline
Text
Introduction
Unilateral visual loss with a normal fundus in a young patient is usually related to an inflammatory optic neuropathy. Intrinsic lesions of visual pathways are rare, but include the exceptional differential diagnosis of cavernoma.
Patient
A 29-year-old patient reported a mild unilateral visual loss of rapid onset with ipsilateral right temporal hemianopia, recovering spontaneously in a few days.
Results
The patient relapsed three months later, and an MRI disclosed a chiasmal heterogenous enhancing lesion. Work-up found no evidence for an inflammatory, infectious or metastatic disease and therefore a neuro-surgical approach of the lesion allowed to diagnose a cavernoma, confirmed by pathological examination. Successful resection resulted in partial recovery of the visual field. Post-operative MRI (T2* sequences) ruled out other cavernomatous localization.
Conclusion
Cavernomas located within the visual pathways are rare lesions, their removal being beneficial for the visual outcome.