Benign optic nerve gliomas in an adult: A case report

Benign optic nerve gliomas were rarely found in adults, and total resection of these lesions seems impossible. We aimed to share a rare clinical case with an unusual and instructive treatment process.

A 52-year-old woman complained of a 4-month history of visual disturbance. Automated perimetry revealed visual field defect in her both eyes.

This patient was diagnosed with optic nerve glioma. We found its pathological features consistent with the pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO grade I).

A total resection of the tumor was smoothly performed.

Repeat MRI 3 months after the surgery demonstrated no recurrence of the lesion. Two years of postoperative telephone follow-up showed a stable status of improved vision.

We reported this interesting case to show a rare kind of condition regarding optic nerve gliomas in adults, which might help neurosurgeons like us to diagnose and treat these "invisible" tumors.