Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy due to Aspergillus fumigatus.
A 35-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer experienced acute monocular visual loss. Her fundus examination was normal. The patient died 48 h later, and autopsy demonstrated hematogenously disseminated aspergillosis. The retrobulbar optic nerve of the affected eye showed infarction due to massive embolization with Aspergillus fumigatus. Although the retrobulbar optic nerve is relatively resistant to ischemia, its meningeal derived blood supply may be occluded by massive showers of emboli.
Weinstein
J M
JM
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Morris
G L
GL
ZuRhein
G M
GM
Gentry
L R
LR
D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed