[Optic nerve schwannoma].
OBJECTIVE
To report the occurrence of an orbital schwannoma probably arising from the optic nerve sheath.


METHODS
Clinical case report.


RESULTS
A 65-year-old patient presented with a painless, progressive right proptosis over five years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraconal mass, radiographically consistent with a cavernous hemangioma. Surgical resection was performed and pathology disclosed a schwannoma affecting the optic nerve. The optic nerve, which does not contain Schwann cells, is exceptionally rarely affected by Schwannomas, which may arise from a few sympathetic nerve fibers or from a few ectopic cells, not normally present within the optic nerve.


CONCLUSIONS
The radiologic appearance of the very rare optic nerve Schwannoma may be confused with a cavernous hemangioma, a more common tumor in this location.
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU d'Angers, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 09, France. stephanieleruez@hotmail.fr
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Leruez
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Gohier
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Menei
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Milea
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology*; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019574:Optic Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed