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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Publication Preview: Published April 10, 2008

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American Journal of Neuroradiology
DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A1063

HEAD & NECK

Immediate Shrinkage of Optociliary Shunt Vessels After Fractionated External Beam Radiation for Meningioma of the Optic Nerve Sheath

A.G. de Alba Campomanes, D.A. Larson and J.C. Horton

From the Departments of Ophthalmology (A.G.d.A.C., J.C.H.) and Radiation Oncology (D.A.L.), University of California, San Francisco, Calif.

Please address correspondence to Jonathan C. Horton, MD, PhD, Beckman Vision Center, University of California, 10 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0730; e-mail: hortonj{at}vision.ucsf.edu

SUMMARY: Fractionated stereotactic radiation has become the standard treatment of meningioma of the optic nerve sheath. The mechanism responsible for improvement in visual function is unclear, because neuroimaging after treatment usually shows no discernable change in tumor appearance. We report immediate regression of optociliary shunt vessels in a patient after radiation treatment of an optic nerve sheath meningioma. This observation indicates that radiation treatment can cause rapid reduction of optic nerve compression, even without appreciable reduction in the size of the meningioma.