Bilateral Optic Disc Swelling Following Anastrozole Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Anastrozole is a widely used aromatase inhibitor for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
• Concurrent diagnoses included early-stage endometrial and ovarian cancers.
• The patient presented with acute visual disturbances.

Observation:

• Sudden onset of visual changes and a right inferior visual field defect were noted.
• Ophthalmic examination revealed severe bilateral optic disc swelling and reduced visual acuity.
• The patient was undergoing treatment with anastrozole for early-stage breast cancer.

Findings:

• The visual disturbances and optic disc swelling resolved with discontinuation of anastrozole.
• This represents the first reported instance of optic disc swelling associated with anastrozole therapy.
• Laboratory results were otherwise normal, ruling out other common causes.

Implications:

• Anastrozole may be associated with rare but significant ocular side effects, specifically optic disc swelling.
• Ophthalmologists and oncologists should be aware of this potential adverse event.
• Further investigation may be warranted to understand the mechanism and incidence of anastrozole-induced optic disc swelling.