title: Optic nerve decompression for compressive neuropathy secondary to neoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of extracranial optic nerve decompression in patients with compressive optic neuropathy secondary to intracranial, paranasal sinus, or orbital neoplastic processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review and clinical follow-up of patients who underwent optic nerve decompression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  During an 8-year period, 95 extracranial optic nerve decompressions were performed by one of us (M.P.J.) for optic neuropathy resulting from traumatic, inflammatory, infectious, iatrogenic, neoplastic, and idiopathic processes. Thirty patients with compressive optic neuropathy secondary to histopathologically confirmed tumors were identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Optic nerve decompression via external ethmoidectomy approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty (67%) of 30 patients showed improvement in vision. Improvement in 17 of the 20 patients has been stable. Seven patients (23%) showed no improvement but there was no further worsening of vision after surgery. In 3 patients (10%) vision deteriorated following surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracranial optic nerve decompression may be considered for the preservation or improvement of vision in selected patients with compressive optic neuropathy from neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, USA. kli@uci.edu
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lucarelli
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bilyk
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity