Introduction and importance: Several neuro-ophthalmic manifestations have been reported with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. However, isolated optic neuritis was infrequently reported in humans with COVID-19. If it occurred, optic neuritis was usually a part of a demyelinating syndrome.
Case presentation: In this paper, we report a case of optic neuritis concomitant with an undiagnosed pituitary macroadenoma discovered during active COVID-19 infection. The case was a 33-year-old woman with infertility who was recently found to have a pituitary macroadenoma secreting prolactin. During active COVID-19 infection, the patient developed optic neuritis that responded well to corticosteroids. Brain imaging and hormonal profile negated the presence of any demyelinating disease or pituitary apoplexy.
Clinical discussion: A dilemma of whether optic neuritis occurring concomitantly with pituitary macroadenoma is just a coincidence, or there is an association remains unresolved. Whether COVID-19 infection might precipitate optic neuritis in patients with pituitary macroadenoma or not remains an issue to be answered by observing data from future case reports about similar findings.
Conclusion: Optic neuritis in concomitant with pituitary macroadenoma following COVID-19 infection represents a dilemma of whether the visual symptoms are attributed to the tumor or COVID-19 infection.
Keywords: COVID-19; Optic neuritis; Pituitary macroadenoma.
© 2021 The Author(s).