Sixty-one cases suspected of optic neuropathy

Purpose : To report 61 cases who were initially suspected of optic neuropathy. Cases and Method : This retrospective study was made on 61 cases who were seen at Kyushu University Hospital during the past 3 years and who were initially suspected of optic neuropathy. The series comprised 34 males and 27 females. The age ranged from 7 to 89 years, average 51 years. All the cases were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRl). Lumbar puncture was performed in 22 cases. Findings were analyzed based on clinical records. Results : The most common underlying lesion was inflammatory in 16 cases (26%), followed by ischemic (13%), compression (l 1%), hereditary (7%) and infectious (5%) among others. Pulsed corticsteroid therapy was performed in 27 cases (44%). Conclusion ; There was no difference among age groups regarding the underlying cause of optic neuropathy. Hospitalization was useful in the diagnosis and treatment by enabling lumbar puncture and pulsed corticosteroid therapy.