Optochiasmatic tuberculoma--case report and review

Abstract

An optochiasmatic tuberculoma, encasing the chiasm and optic nerves, was found in a 58-year-old woman complaining of sudden beginning and progressive visual failure. The patient was treated by surgery and prolonged corticosteroids and continued triple antituberculous therapy. Pathological diagnosis was a tuberculoma confirmed by postoperative positive polymerase chain reaction against M. tuberculosis. Because the incidence of tuberculomas has increased, especially in developing countries, in recent years and they also involve optic nerves and chiasm, it is important to include optochiasmatic tuberculoma in the differential diagnosis of optic nerve and chiasm tumors. Including this case, only 31 instances of optochiasmatic tuberculoma have been reported in the literature.