Abstract
A 4-year-old girl gradually lost her vision to become practically blind at the age
of 10 years. Examinations at several medical centers had been unable to establish
an etiology. Traditional investigation using cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
initially showed normal results; however, later on it showed progressive atrophy of
both optical nerves without recognizable cause. Subsequently, MRI including adequate
orbital sequences, contrast-enhanced sequences, and fat suppression demonstrated bilateral
primary optic nerve sheath meningioma, a rare but treatable tumor of childhood. The
patient underwent neurosurgery and to date retains minimal vision. Adequate neuroradiological
investigation of unexplained optic atrophy is advocated.
Keywords
optic nerve tumor - optic nerve atrophy - bilateral visual loss - child
