Papilloedema in Patients With Brain Tumour

Abstract

We studied the risk factors for the development of papilloedema in patients with brain tumours and the frequency of visual disturbances in patients with papilloedema. Nine hundred and sixty-two patients treated at the Burdenko Neurosurgery Institute within a calendar year were examined. Papilloedema was identified in 30.8% of the patients. The frequency of papilloedema depended on the histological pattern, location of the tumour and age of the patient. Papilloedema was revealed in 34.4% of the patients with malignant brain tumours and in 28.2% of the patients with benign brain tumours (p < 0.05). Deep seated midline brain tumours supra-tentorial (55.9%) and infra-tentorial (48.8%) produced papilloedema more often than those in other locations (p < 0.05). Papilloedema was less frequent in patient above 59 years of age (p < 0.05). Visual acuity loss was observed in 30.4% of patients with papilloedema, visual field defects were found in 48%. The frequency of visual disturbances depended on the stage of papilloedema.

Keywords:

• Papilloedema
• brain tumour