Abstract
Probably no other intracranial tumor of childhood has been the subject of as many reports, with as many differing recommendations for treatment, as visual pathway gliomas [1–12]. In fact, some observers contend that the majority of lesions diagnosed as visual pathway gliomas are not tumors, but rather hamartomatous masses [13]. Gliomas of the visual pathway in childhood can involve one or both optic nerves, the optic chiasm, the optic tracts, and/or the occipital lobes [14]. Infiltration into intracranial structures not primarily responsible for vision, including the hypothalamus and thalamus, may also occur. Gliomas in the diencephalic region are often very large, and separation of chiasmatic lesions from hypothalamic masses is frequently arbitrary, artificial, and of no clinical importance [10].
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Miller NR, Iliff WJ, Green WR: Evaluation and management of gliomas of the anterior visual pathway. Brain 97:743–754, 1975.
Danoff BF, Kramer S, Thompson N: The radiotherapeutic management of optic gliomas of children. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 6: 45–50, 1980.
Taveras JM, Mont LA, Wood EH: The value of radiation therapy in management of gliomas of optic nerves and chiasm. Radiology 66: 518–528, 1956.
Tym R: Piloid gliomas of the anterior optic pathways. Br J Surg 49:322–331, 1961.
Wong IG, Lubow M: Management of optic glioma of childhood—a review of 42 cases. In Neuro-Ophthalmology Symposium of University of Miami and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, volume Vim. St. Louis: Mosby, 1972, pp 51–60.
Myles ST, Murphy SG: Gliomas of the optic nerve and chiasm. Can J Ophthalmol 8: 508–514, 1973.
Heiskanan O, Raitta C, Torsi R: The management and prognosis of gliomas of the optic pathways in children. Acta Neurochir 43: 193–199, 1978.
Lowes M, Bojsen-Moller M, Vorre P, Hedegaard O: An evaluation of gliomas of the anterior visual pathway. A ten year survey. Acta Neurochir 43:34–41, 1978.
Oxenhandler DC, Sayers MP: The dilemma of childhood optic gliomas. J Neurosurg 48: 34–41, 1978.
Packer RJ, Savino PJ, Bilaniuk L, et al.: Chiasmatic gliomas of childhood: A reappraisal of natural history and effectiveness of cranial irradiation. Childs Brain 10:393–403, 1983.
Rush JA, Young BR, Campbell RJ, MacCarthy CS: Optic glioma, long-term follow-up of 85 histopathologically verified cases. Ophthalmology 89:1213–1219, 1982.
Rosenstock JG, Packer RJ, Bilaniuk LT, et al.: Chiasmatic optic glioma treated with chemotherapy. A preliminary report. J Neurosurg 63:862–866, 1985.
Hoyt WF, Baghdassaeian SA: Optic glioma of childhood. Br J Ophthalmol 53:793–798, 1969.
Fletcher WA, Imes RK, Hoyt WF: Chiasmatic gliomas: Appearance and long-term changes demonstrated by computed tomography. J Neurosurg 65:154–159, 1986.
Reese AB: Tumors of the Eye New York: Hoeser, 1963.
Chutorian AM, Schwartz JF, Evans RA, Carter S: Optic gliomas in children. Neurology 14: 83–95, 1964.
Borit A, Richardson EF Jr: The biological and clinical behavior of pilocytic astrocytomas of the optic pathways. Brain 105:161–187, 1982.
Martuza RL, Kornblith PL, Lisczak TM: Characteristics of human optic gliomas in tissue culture. J Neurosurg 46:78–84, 1977.
Hoyt WF, Meskel LG, Lessell S, et al.: Malignant optic glioma of adulthood. Brain 96: 121–129, 1973.
Eggers H, Jokobiec FA, Jones IS: Optic nerve gliomas. In Duane TD, Jaeger EA (eds), Clinical Ophthalmology, volume 2. New York: Harper and Row, 1985, pp 1–17.
Glaser JS, Hoyt WF, Corbett J: Visual morbidity with chiasmal glioma. Arch Ophthalmol 85:3–12, 1971.
Lavery MA, O’Niel JF, Chu FC, Martyn LJ: Acquired nystagmus in early childhood: A presenting sign of intracranial tumor. Ophthalmology 91:425–435, 1984.
Albright AL, Sclabassi RJ, Slamovits TL, Bergman I: Spasmus nutans associated with optic gliomas in childhood. J Pediatr 105:778–780, 1984.
Antomy JH, Oavier RA, Wise GW: Spasmus nutans, a mistaken identity. Arch Neurol 37: 373–375, 1980.
Norton EWD, Cogan DC: Spasmus nutans: A clinical study of twenty cases followed two years or more since onset. Arch Ophthalmol 52:442–446, 1954.
Farmer J, Hoyt CS: Monocular nystagmus in infancy and early childhood. Am J Ophthalmol 98:504–509, 1984.
Klatte EC, Franken EA, Smith JA: The radiographic spectrum in neurofibromatosis. Sem in Roentgenol 11(1): 17–33, 1976.
Packer RJ, Batinsky S, Cohen MA: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of intracranial lesions of childhood. Cancer 56:1767–1772, 1985.
Wagener HP: Gliomas of the optic nerve. Am J Med Sci 237:238–261, 1959.
Berke RN: A modified Kronlein operation. Arch Ophthalmol 51:609–632, 1954.
Dandy WE: Prechiasmal intracranial tumors of the optic nerves. Am J Ophthalmol 5: 169–188, 1922.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Packer, R.J., Savino, P.J., Diamond, G.R., Sutton, L.N. (1990). Visual Pathway Gliomas. In: Deutsch, M. (eds) Management of Childhood Brain Tumors. Foundations of Neurological Surgery, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1501-8_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1501-8_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8807-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1501-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive