Primary and Secondary Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Oncology

Background:

• Optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) is a rare tumor affecting the optic nerve.
• Understanding its diagnosis and management is crucial for preserving vision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the recognition, radiographic diagnosis, monitoring, and management of primary and secondary ONSM.
• To analyze current treatment strategies and their outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles via PubMed.
• Inclusion of illustrative case studies from a tertiary neuroophthalmic practice.
• Summarization of radiotherapeutic and surgical studies.

Main Results:

• ONSM typically presents with progressive ipsilateral vision loss.
• Radiographic imaging is key for diagnosis; biopsy may be needed.
• Radiation therapy is increasingly the primary treatment for pONSM due to superior outcomes compared to surgery. Surgery may be beneficial for select sONSM cases.

Conclusions:

• Diverse treatment options, including observation, radiation, and surgery, exist for ONSM.
• Treatment indications are continually evolving, with a trend towards radiation for primary ONSM.