title: Prognostic value of the pattern electroretinogram in cases of tumors affecting the optic pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumors compressing the optic pathway may lead to irreversible loss of vision which may be detected by the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) because of its relation to ganglion cell function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes of 19 patients were tested shortly before and 5-10 days after tumor surgery. Visual acuity, the 30-deg visual field and the transient and steady-state pattern reversal ERG were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using patterns of 1.5 x 1.2 deg there was a good correlation between the change of pre- and post-surgical visual performance and most of the pattern ERG amplitudes. For all variables tested--P50, N95- and steady-state amplitude--there was a critical value beyond which the visual outcome could be bad or favorable, whereas patients showing higher amplitudes always remained stable or improved after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive correlation between pattern ERG amplitudes and the post-surgical outcome in the case of tumors affecting the optic pathway may be helpful in predicting the outcome for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité und Virchow Klinikum, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany. ruether@ukrv.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rüther
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ehlich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eckstein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zrenner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009897:Optic Chiasm; D011379:Prognosis; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields; D014795:Visual Pathways