Fluorescein retinal angiography in the early diagnosis of optic disc edema

33 patients hospitalized for suspected intracranial space-occupying lesion with negative or dubious ophthalmoscopic findings underwent fluorescein retinal angiography (FRA). The final diagnosis was based on the clinical and instrumental evidence. In 18 patients FRA showed late fluorescence of the optic disc with blurring of its margins. 17 of them had an intracranial space-occupying lesion and 1 had had a transient attach of cerebral ischemia. The FRA was negative in 15 patients: in 13 the final diagnosis ruled out raised intracranial space-occupying lesion. Comparison of the FRA results with the final diagnosis yields sensitivity, specificity and positive predictability ratings of 94.44, 92.85 and 94.44% for FRA.