Optic gliomas of the anterior visual pathway.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review advances in the diagnosis and management of optic-pathway gliomas made within the past 5 years. RECENT FINDINGS: Important papers regarding optic-pathway gliomas have been published recently in the following areas: neuroimaging, natural history and how the presence of neurofibromatosis type 1 affects it, unusual presentations, visual prognosis, and treatment with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. SUMMARY: The diagnosis and treatment of optic-pathway gliomas has been aided greatly by a greater understanding of the natural history of these tumors and their prognosis related to the presence of neurofibromatosis type 1. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging are helping to delineate tumor extent. Newer radiation techniques that spare surrounding tissues are being used to treat optic-pathway gliomas, but chemotherapy has become the first-line treatment modality.

Author information

Author/s: Liu, Grant T (GT);

Affiliation: Division of Neuro-ophthalmology, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. gliu(-atsign-)mail.med.upenn.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Current opinion in ophthalmology (Curr Opin Ophthalmol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Oct; vol 17 (issue 5) : pp 427-31

Dates: Created 2006/08/25; Completed 2006/11/20;

PMID: 16932058, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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