title: Transsynaptic neuronal degeneration of optic nerves associated with bilateral occipital lesions.
abstract: A case is reported of a 9-year old male who presented with abnormal behaviour and progressive diminution of vision. Pupils were middilated in both eyes but the pupillary reflexes were preserved. Fundus examination revealed a bilateral optic atrophy and radiological investigations showed a bilateral occipital calcification. We hereby document a case of retrograde transsynaptic neuronal degeneration of the visual system secondary to bilateral occipital lesions. Transsynapptic neuronal degeneration of optic nerves consequent to occipital lobe lesions is a rare phenomenon. Experimentally occipital lobe ablation in non-human primates has been shown to result in optic atrophy. Herein, we document a case of retrograde transsynaptic neuronal degeneration of the visual system secondary to bilateral occipital lesions.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goulatia
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Misra
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009778:Occipital Lobe; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000209:etiology*; D013569:Synapses