[Assessment of lesions in various sections of the visual pathway]

The suitability of ultrasonography, computer tomography and Octopus perimetry is illustrated with reference to an investigation carried out in 60 patients. First, the characteristic symptoms are described, depending on the localization of the lesion in the visual pathway. Then the advantages and disadvantages of the various examination methods are compared. In the orbita, echography is the most accurate method in the anterior segments, while the balance shifts increasingly in favor of CT toward the retrobulbar region. As far as intracranial tumors are concerned, there is good correlation between CT and VF findings in the case of sellar processes and pathologic changes of the midline and occipital lobe. In the frontotemporal region, on the other hand, VF defects are found in only one-half of the cases, while in the case of vascular lesions there is no apparent correlation between perimetry findings and the size of the lesion demonstrated on the computer tomogram. The importance of the Octopus for early recognition of such lesions is discussed.