Complete resection of a cavernous haemangioma of the optic nerve, the chiasm, and the optic tract

Abstract

The involvement of the optic nerve, the chiasma, and the optic tract by a cavernoma has been reported in only three patients. In all of them, a biopsy of the vascular lesion was obtained. We report a further example of a 38-year-old male patient who suffered from acute onset of severe headache and progressive loss of vision. The vascular malformation of the optic pathways was completely removed via a pterional approach. This is the first reported instance of complete resection of a cavernoma involving the optic nerve, the chiasm, and the optic tract.