Malignant Gliomas of the Optic Nerve Pathways

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 2015

PURPOSE Malignant optic glioma of adulthood is a rare, invasive neoplasm of the anterior visual pathway with 66 cases reported in the literature. It presents as anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) or glioblastoma (WHO grade IV). The present case series covers the spectrum of disease manifestations, discusses neuroradiological findings, and reviews the current literature. METHODS Retrospective case series of five patients from three tertiary referral centers and literature review. RESULTS Visual loss with or without pain was the presenting symptom in all patients (two women, three men). Two patients were initially misdiagnosed as optic neuritis, and one patient as atypical non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). A neoplastic disease was suspected in the two remaining patients. MRI features were iso-to hypointensity on T1-weighted native images, contrast enhancement, and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. Biopsy was generally diagnostic; however, one patient required two biopsies for diagnosis. The series includes an exceptional case of intraocular tumor extension and vitreous spread. The disease was lethal within one to two years in all patients. CONCLUSIONS Malignant optic glioma is a diagnostic challenge and remains a devastating and lethal disease. Advances in the understanding of tumor biology have yet failed to translate into effective treatment regimens.

Journal of Radiology Case Reports, 2009

We present a case of glioblastoma multiforme of the optic pathways in a 68 year old lady. Glioblastomas of the optic pathways are rare tumors; the predominant non enhancing component and the vast extent of involvement makes this a unique case. This case report further increases the database of knowledge available on the MRI characteristics of malignant optic glioma of adulthood.

JAMA Ophthalmology, 2013

Importance: Optic pathway gliomas are an important neuro-ophthalmic cause of vision loss in children. Their management depends on whether they are considered neoplasms or hamartomas. Objective: To outline the evidence that optic pathway gliomas are slowly growing neoplasms and not hamartomas. Design: Review of relevant studies in the literature. Setting: The authors are from a pediatric tertiary referral center. Results: The growth patterns and histopathology of optic pathway gliomas are more consistent with those of neo-plasms. Spontaneous regression, thought to be a characteristic of hamartomas, can be seen in neoplasms of other types as well as in optic pathway gliomas. Chemotherapy used in low-grade gliomas has been shown to halt or improve vision loss in optic pathway gliomas in many cases. Conclusions and Relevance: Optic pathway gliomas are not hamartomas but truly are neoplasms. Thus, patients should be followed up closely, and chemotherapies should be used when clinical progression occurs. Other more directed therapies will certainly be used in the future.

Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2017

OBJECTIVE Isolated optic nerve gliomas (IONGs) constitute a rare subgroup of optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). Due to the rarity of this condition and the difficulty in differentiating IONGs from other types of OPGs in most clinical series, little is known about these tumors. Currently, due to lack of evidence, they are managed the same as any other OPG. METHODS The authors conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed at determining the natural history of IONGs. Included were patients with clear-cut glioma of the optic nerve without posterior (chiasmatic/hypothalamic) involvement. At least 1 year of follow-up, 2 MRI studies, and 2 neuro-ophthalmological examinations were required for inclusion. RESULTS Thirty-six patients with 39 tumors were included in this study. Age at diagnosis ranged between 6 months and 16 years (average 6 years). The mean follow-up time was 5.6 years. Twenty-five patients had neurofibromatosis Type 1. During the follow-up period, 59% of the tumors pro...

Medical radiology, 2003

Most optic pathway glioma or hypothalamic gliomas are juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, but their imaging characteristics are not specific with regard to their histologic features. Varying degrees of cystic change and enhancement are demonstrated. The tumours may appear smooth, fusiform, eccentric, or lobulated. Optic pathway gliomas or suprasellar gliomas. These tumours have sometimes been divided into optic pathway gliomas and hypothalamic gliomas (not to be confused with hypothalamic hamartomas). In cases where the tumour is confined to the optic nerves (Dodge stage 1), they can safely be referred to as optic nerve gliomas. Often, however, they are either centred on or extend to involve the chiasm and optic radiations. In such cases, they are difficult to distinguish from hypothalamic gliomas and such a distinction is in most instances artificial. In such more posterior cases the term hypothalamic-optochiasmatic glioma is perhaps more accurate although it certainly does not roll off the tongue. As such, generally, the term optic pathway glioma is favoured, recognising that there may be involvement of the hypothalamus 1). Optic pathway/hypothalamic gliomas (OPHGs) are generally benign but situated in an exquisitely sensitive brain region, and may involve the optic nerves, the optic chiasm, and the optic tracts. Martin and Cushing (1923) first noted the difficulty of determining the site of origin of optic nerve gliomas, since these tend to extend up and down the optic pathways, often making it impossible to decide even at postmortem examination whether the growth originated in the chiasm and extended to the hypothalamus, or vice versa. Epidemiology Gliomas of the optic chiasm and hypothalamus account for 10-15% of supratentorial tumors in children. Males and females are approximately equally affected.

Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery, 2020

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International Ophthalmology, 2014

Optic nerve glioma is the most common optic nerve tumour. However, it has an unpredictable natural history. The treatment of optic nerve gliomas has changed considerably over the past few years. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can now stabilize and in some cases improve the vision of patients with optic nerve gliomas. The treatment of optic nerve glioma requires a multidisciplinary approach where all treatment options may have to be implemented in a highly individualized manner. The aim of this review article is to present current diagnostic and treatment protocols for optic nerve glioma.

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 2011

Surgical Neurology International, 2014

Background: Arachnoid proliferation, although rare, is known to occur in association with optic gliomas. However, chondroid and chordoid metaplasia has not been reported previously. Case Description: A 27-year-old male presented with progressive, painless loss of vision in right eye, associated with vomiting and headache for one and a half months. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a contrast enhancing mass arising from planum sphenoidale. Perioperative findings showed the tumor adherent to the right optic nerve and attached to basal dura and falx. A clinical impression of an intradural, optic nerve sheath meningioma was made. Histopathological examination revealed a glial tumor with adjacent areas displaying marked fibroblastic and arachnoid cell proliferation with chondroid as well as chordoid differentiation along with myxoid change and dense collagenisation. Reticulin stain, immunochemistry with glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and S-100 helped to arrive at the final diagnosis of optic glioma displaying exuberant arachnoid proliferation with cartilaginous metaplasia. Conclusion: We report a case of optic nerve glioma displaying extensive arachnoid proliferation, chordoid, and cartilaginous metaplasia, which mimicked chondrosarcoma or chordoid meningioma, posing a diagnostic dilemma. A clinical feedback, simple reticulin stain, and GFAP staining is of immense value in such cases to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 2012

Optic nerve gliomas (ONG) are rare astrocytic neoplasms. A paucity of literature exists on the epidemiology and outcomes of ONG. Here, we present a series of 445 cases of ONG obtained from the Surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) database. Data on patient and tumor characteristics as well as initial treatment with surgery or radiation were extracted from the SEER Database. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent prognostic factors predicting mortality hazard ratios (HRs) using Cox proportional hazards modeling. The median age range at diagnosis was 5-9 years. Twenty percent of patients were over the age of 20 years. Amongst patients with information available on tumor grade (n = 131), 83% had a low-grade tumors and 17% had a high-grade tumors. Sixteen percent of patients received radiation therapy and 18.4% of patient underwent a sub-or gross total resection. The 5 year overall survival was 96% and 20% for patients with low-and high-grade tumors, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, grade was the only significant predictor of overall survival (HR 29.3, CI: 4.3, 205.4, P \ 0.001). Age at diagnosis, receipt of radiation therapy, and extent of surgical resection were not significantly correlated with overall survival. In conclusion, ONG are rare tumors seen predominantly in children. The overall prognosis of high-grade tumors remains poor in all age groups despite multi-modality treatment.