Computed tomography of intraorbital optic nerve gliomas in children

Optic nerve gliomas were diagnosed with computed tomography (CT) in 10 children. CT: (A) provides the best radiographic means of demonstrating the orbital portion of the optic nerves; (b) can evaluate the clinically unsuspected optic nerve for bilateral gliomas; (c) demonstrates gross intracranial involvement; and (d) can be used to follow the course of a glioma. Gliomas can present on CT as (a) a uniform thickening of the entire nerve; (b) a solitary fusiform enlargement of the nerve; or (c) an irregular solid thickening along the nerve. The authors routinely use axial CT of optic nerves as the primary diagnostic scan.