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Metastasis to the optic nerve: clinicopathological correlations
G S Allaire1, C Corriveau, J D Arbour
1Department of Pathology, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, PQ.
Summary
Metastatic carcinoma in the optic nerve presents unique challenges. Higher radiotherapy doses may be needed for effective treatment compared to choroidal metastases.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Carcinoma can metastasize to the optic nerve, impacting vision.
- Understanding the pathways of spread is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- Two cases of optic nerve metastasis are presented: one from breast carcinoma, one from small-cell lung carcinoma.
- Clinical, radiologic (ultrasonography, CT), and histopathological features were analyzed.
Findings:
- Breast carcinoma presented as an optic nerve head mass; lung carcinoma involved the retina and optic nerve.
- Radiotherapy showed limited efficacy in both cases, with postmortem histopathology confirming tumor resistance.
Implications:
- Current radiotherapy protocols may be insufficient for optic nerve metastases.
- Higher radiation doses might be necessary for effective treatment of optic nerve metastases, distinct from choroidal metastases.