title: Compression neuropathy caused by cancer metastasis to the optic nerve canal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancerous cells are known to metastasize to different ocular structures. This happens especially to the choroid in males with lung cancer and females with breast cancer. However, we observed two cases of cancerous metastasis to the optic canal region. Both cases showed only a progressive decrease in vision without any other remarkable ophthalmological symptoms or abnormalities in the affected eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two females, a 60-year-old and a 73-year-old, came to our hospital because of progressive loss of vision. These patients showed no remarkable symptoms or signs in their eyes except visual acuity loss. Several ophthalmoscopic examinations, such as slit lamp microscopy and fundoscopy, showed no abnormal changes in their affected eye but magnetic resonance imaging indicated a massive legion around the optic nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible for cancer to metastasize to the optic canal region and the existence of primary tumors should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kesennuma City Hospital, 184 Tanaka, Kesennuma, Miyagi 988-0052, Japan. tamapiro@pk9.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Teiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuse
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D001176:Arthrogryposis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015417:Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery