Internationale Zeitschrift für Augenpathologie

Lymphomatous Optic Nerve Infiltration in Paediatric Cases

RN Hussain, C Chambers and G Woodruff

We describe 2 children with stage IV anaplastic lymphoma with optic neuropathy due to optic nerve infiltration. Both children had an established diagnosis of anaplastic lymphoma prior to their ocular symptoms. Common symptoms included visual blurring and ocular pain, and examination revealed optic nerve head infiltration. Although one patient responded initially to systemic chemotherapy agents, both had residual severe visual impairment secondary to their optic nerve lesion and to the toxic effects of treatment for their central nervous system disease.

Anaplastic lymphoma is a rare cause of optic neuropathy. This is the first report of children with such a diagnosis with visual follow up; the visual prognosis seems to be poor and very resistant to treatment.