[Neuro-ophthalmological examinations in craniopharyngiomas in childhood]

The results of ophthalmologic examinations of 50 children with craniopharyngiomas are analyzed. The condition was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examinations, roentgenography, angiography, brain scintigraphy, and computer-aided tomography. In 48 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by histologic findings. The mean age of the patients was 9 years 6 months, both boys and girls were included in the study group. Vision acuity deterioration was detected in 69.6% of children, optic disk edema in 22% and atrophic changes of the disk in 52% of the examinees. Vision field defects were revealed in 67.7%, nystagmus in 4 cases, oculomotor nerve paresis in 6 cases. The authors emphasize timely employment of conventional and present-day x-ray examinations, that are highly informative in such conditions, in all the patients with vision disorders of unknown origin and with suspected compression of the visual routes.