Hemangioblastoma of the optic nerve: case report

An optic nerve hemangioblastoma arising in the optic nerve of a patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome is reported. This represents the 10th published example of a hemangioblastoma arising at this site, the second description of the magnetic resonance imaging features of a hemangioblastoma at this location, and the second patient from whom an optic nerve hemangioblastoma has been removed with the goal of preserving the optic nerve as well as vision. A majority of these optic nerve hemangioblastomas have arisen in patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. All patients experienced progressive loss of vision either to blindness or surgical intervention, although a vast majority of the lesions were sharply demarcated from the adjacent nerve and, thus, potentially resectable. Optic nerve hemangioblastomas are a rare cause of blindness but potentially preventable when treated with a conservative surgical approach aided by neuroimaging guidance. The recognition of discordance between the degree of vision loss and the extent or progression of a retinal hemangioblastoma may be an important clue to diagnosis in the patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.