Imaging of the pre-chiasmatic optic nerve

Diagn Interv Imaging. 2013 Oct;94(10):973-84. doi: 10.1016/j.diii.2013.06.001. Epub 2013 Jul 4.

Abstract

Damage to the optic nerve (ON) is characterised by a reduction in visual acuity. Pre-chiasmatic lesions to the optic nerve may be of traumatic, congenital, tumoral (meningioma, glioma), inflammatory or vascular origins. In all cases, MRI is the choice means of exploration, carried out with axial and coronal sections with a thickness of 2.5-3mm and T1 and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. The coronal sections may be carried out with fat signal saturation for an elective study of the size of the retrobulbar portion of the ON.

Keywords: MRI; Optic nerve; Orbit.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Optic Chiasm / pathology*
  • Optic Nerve / pathology*
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / pathology
  • Optic Nerve Injuries / diagnosis
  • Optic Nerve Injuries / pathology
  • Optic Nerve Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Optic Nerve Neoplasms / pathology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Visual Acuity / physiology