Paraneoplastic optic neuropathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma--report of a case

Singapore Med J. 1991 Apr;32(2):170-3.

Abstract

A 31-year-old Chinese man developed left optic neuritis with left sectorial field loss as a remote effect of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The field defect showed interesting fluctuations in response to the dosage of systemic steroid therapy. Neuropathologic findings from an exploratory craniotomy did not show any gross tumour mass around the left optic nerve nor any histological evidence of tumour infiltration. This case illustrates that "optic neuritis" could be a paraneoplastic effect of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Optic Nerve / pathology
  • Optic Neuritis / diagnosis*
  • Optic Neuritis / etiology
  • Optic Neuritis / pathology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Visual Fields