title: Isolated optic nerve lymphoma diagnosed by optic nerve biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of isolated optic nerve lymphoma diagnosed by optic nerve biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 66-year-old woman was referred to the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service because of a decrease in visual acuity and right optic disk edema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A magnetic resonance image of the brain showed only enhancement of the optic nerve. An examination that included ANA, c-ANCA, p-ANCA, Lyme titers, FTA-ABS, ACE level, chest x-ray, and lumbar puncture was negative. Because of rapid progression on clinical examination and serial imaging, an optic nerve biopsy was performed, which showed B-cell lymphoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optic nerve lymphoma can be confused with a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic infiltrations of the optic nerve on clinical and radiographic examinations. Optic nerve biopsy can be valuable in diagnosing isolated optic nerve lymphoma if other diagnostic tests are unrevealing, but the procedure carries considerable risk of loss of visual acuity and should be recommended judiciously.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 840 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. r_behbehani@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Raed S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Behbehani
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vacarezza
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sergott
authors.forename: Jurij R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bilyk
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hochberg
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Savino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D019574:Optic Nerve Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008727:Methotrexate