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Meningioma of the optic nerve shell

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
 
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Meningiomas develop from meningoendothelial cells of the arachnoid. Primary meningiomas of the orbit, originating from the optic nerve shell, account for 2% of cases and are less common than gliomas of the optic nerve. Most often they suffer from women.

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Symptoms of the meningioma of the optic nerve shell

The disease manifests itself in middle age by a one-sided gradual decrease in vision. Temporary impairment of vision may be the first symptom.

Classical triad: decreased vision, atrophy of the optic nerve, opticociliary vascular shunts. However, the simultaneous appearance of all three features is rare. The sequence of signs is as follows:

  • Dysfunction of the optic nerve and chronic stagnant disk, followed by atrophy.
  • Opticociliary vascular shunts, which are found in about 30% of cases, regress with the development of optic atrophy.
  • Limitation of mobility, especially upwards, because the tumor can "split") the optic nerve.
  • Exophthalmos appears due to tumor growth within the muscle funnel and develops after a decrease in vision.

The sequence is the opposite of the one that occurs in tumors growing outside the solid shell when exophthalmos appear long before the compression of the optic nerve.

Diagnostics

KT demonstrates tubular thickening and calcification of the optic nerve.

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Treatment of meningioma of the optic nerve shell

  1. Observation of middle-aged patients with slow growth of the tumor, as the prognosis is good.
  2. Surgical removal in patients of young age with aggressive tumors, especially with a blind eye.
  3. Irradiation in some cases.

Forecast

Life expectancy in adults is good, although the tumor can be aggressive and sometimes fatal in children.

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