Radiation-induced optic neuropathy: A magnetic resonance imaging study

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Neurosurgery; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.1991.74.3.0426· OSTI ID:5979925

Guy, J; Mancuso, A; Beck, R; Moster, M L; Sedwick, L A; Quisling, R G; Rhoton, Jr, A L; Protzko, E E; Schiffman, J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville (USA)

Optic neuropathy induced by radiation is an infrequent cause of delayed visual loss that may at times be difficult to differentiate from compression of the visual pathways by recurrent neoplasm. The authors describe six patients with this disorder who experienced loss of vision 6 to 36 months after neurological surgery and radiation therapy. Of the six patients in the series, two had a pituitary adenoma and one each had a metastatic melanoma, multiple myeloma, craniopharyngioma, and lymphoepithelioma. Visual acuity in the affected eyes ranged from 20/25 to no light perception. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed sellar and parasellar recurrence of both pituitary adenomas, but the intrinsic lesions of the optic nerves and optic chiasm induced by radiation were enhanced after gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (DTPA) administration and were clearly distinguishable from the suprasellar compression of tumor. Repeated MR imaging showed spontaneous resolution of gadolinium-DTPA enhancement of the optic nerve in a patient who was initially suspected of harboring recurrence of a metastatic malignant melanoma as the cause of visual loss. The authors found the presumptive diagnosis of radiation-induced optic neuropathy facilitated by MR imaging with gadolinium-DTPA. This neuro-imaging procedure may help avert exploratory surgery in some patients with recurrent neoplasm in whom the etiology of visual loss is uncertain.

• OSTI ID: 5979925
• Journal Information: Journal of Neurosurgery; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Neurosurgery; (USA) Vol. 74:3; ISSN 0022-3085; ISSN JONSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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550600 -- Medicine
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINO ACIDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DRUGS
DTPA
EYES
FACE
HEAD
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NMR IMAGING
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOLOGY
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RADIOTHERAPY
SENSE ORGANS
SENSE ORGANS DISEASES
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY