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Updated: May 23, 2026
09:57
Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
Opticochiasmatic apoplexy in a five-year-old
Bret Gene Ball1, Cynthia Wetmore, Caterina Giannini
1Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Pediatric Neurosurgery
|March 30, 2012
Summary
Apoplexy is a rare presentation for pediatric optic pathway gliomas. This case highlights the importance of prompt surgical intervention for diagnosis and treatment in young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) are tumors affecting the optic nerves and brain.
- Apoplexy, a sudden neurological deficit due to hemorrhage or infarction, is an uncommon presentation for OPGs.
Observation:
- A 5-year-old female presented with acute nausea, vomiting, and altered mental status.
- Imaging revealed hemorrhage from a suprasellar mass, suggestive of an optic nerve glioma.
- Surgical biopsy and hematoma evacuation were performed.
Findings:
- Pathology confirmed a grade 3 fibrillary astrocytoma.
- The patient received chemotherapy with carboplatin and vincristine.
- Two-year follow-up showed no evidence of tumor recurrence.
Implications:
- This is the first reported pediatric case of optic pathway glioma presenting with apoplexy.
- Clinical presentation mimics pituitary apoplexy, emphasizing the need for prompt evaluation.
- Urgent surgery is crucial for diagnosis, hematoma evacuation, and preventing neurological damage.
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