Reverse Foster Kennedy Syndrome Caused by an Intra-axial Tumor.

Area of Science:

• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Oncology

Background:

• Reverse Foster-Kennedy syndrome is a rare condition characterized by unilateral papilledema and contralateral optic atrophy.
• It is typically associated with a suprasellar or anterior cranial fossa tumor.

Observation:

• A 23-year-old male presented with painless vision loss in the right eye and rapidly progressing vision loss in the left eye.
• Bilateral lateral rectus palsy was noted, along with fundoscopic findings of optic atrophy in the right eye and papilledema in the left eye.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an intra-axial contrast-enhancing left frontal tumor.

Findings:

• The patient's presentation and imaging findings are consistent with reverse Foster-Kennedy syndrome.
• This case represents the first documented instance of this syndrome in the English literature.
• The study emphasizes the correlation between clinical presentation, radiological findings, and histopathological results.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of reverse Foster-Kennedy syndrome and its potential etiologies.
• It underscores the necessity of a comprehensive diagnostic approach, integrating clinical, radiological, and pathological data.
• Early recognition and accurate diagnosis are crucial for timely intervention and management of brain tumors presenting with atypical neuro-ophthalmological signs.