Opto-chiasmatic arachnoiditis: a review of traditional neuroradiological diagnosis (82 cases, 1951--1976).
A retrospective appraisal of traditional neuroradiological techniques (such as direct röntgenograms, cerebral angiography RISA-cisternography, and pneumo-cisterno-encephalography, as opposed to the "new" technique of computer-assisted tomography) was carried out in a series of 82 cases of opto-chiasmatic arachnoiditis, all surgically verified. It is concluded that none of these examinations can provide a reliable diagnosis of opto-chiasmatic arachnoiditis, which preoperatively can only be a tentative diagnosis that becomes final only when confirmed by surgical findings. In the presence of certain progressive neuro-ophthalmological symptoms and signs, a negative neuro-radiological investigation should not deter the neurosurgeon from exploring the chiasmatic region. Computer-assisted tomography, of which the authors have no personal experience in these cases, may hold the future answer to the diagnostic problem.
D001099:Arachnoid / Q000473:pathology; D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008793:Metrizamide; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000473:pathology; D011011:Pneumoencephalography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012711:Serum Albumin, Radio-Iodinated; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D012711:Serum Albumin, Radio-Iodinated; D008793:Metrizamide