A case with paraneoplastic optic neuropathy presenting bitemporal hemianopsia

Abstract

A 43-year-old woman developed bitemporal hemianopsia seven years after surgical therapy for thyroid cancer. After total loss of vision in both eyes intracranial surgery was attempted but found no abnormalities around the optic chiasm. Bronchofiberscopic examination revealed adenocarcinoma of the left lung. Postmortem examination showed severe demyelination in the optic nerves especially around the chiasm. No tumor cells were seen intracranially. These findings were consistent with paraneoplastic optic neuropathy. This case suggests that paraneoplastic optic neuropathy can occur at the optic chiasm like other demyelinating diseases do.

Key Words:

• paraneoplastic optic neuropathy
• bitemporal hemianopsia