Optic Disc Drusen Is Frequently Not Reported on Computed Tomography Scans Performed for Other Reasons

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Optic disc drusen (ODD) can mimic papilledema, posing diagnostic challenges.
• Computed tomography (CT) can detect ODD, but their reporting accuracy is unclear.
• Radiologists' reporting of ODD on CT scans for non-ODD indications was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency with which radiologists report optic disc drusen (ODD) on CT scans.
• To assess the underreporting of ODD in CT reports when ODD was not the primary indication for the scan.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of patients with confirmed ODD.
• Inclusion criteria: patients with fundus autofluorescence or OCT-EDI proven ODD who had prior brain CT scans.
• Analysis of 25 CT scan reports from 23 patients.

Main Results:

• Optic disc drusen (ODD) were present in all 23 patients (43 eyes).
• Only 8 of 25 (32.0%) CT reports explicitly mentioned ODD.
• ODD were mentioned in all 5 scans performed for unrelated neuro-ophthalmic indications.

Conclusions:

• Optic disc drusen (ODD) are significantly underreported in CT scan reports (32% explicit mention).
• Radiologists need awareness of ODD importance for ophthalmologists.
• Absence of ODD mention in a CT report does not confirm absence of ODD on imaging.