SCIENTIFIC REPORT

Optical coherence tomography analysis of axonal loss in band atrophy of the optic nerve

M L R Monteiro¹, B C Leal¹, A A M Rosa¹ and M D Bronstein²

¹ Division of Ophthalmology, Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
² Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M L R Monteiro
Av. Angélica 1757 conj. 61, 01227-200, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; mlrmonteiro{at}terra.com.br

Aims: To measure axonal loss in patients with band atrophy of the optic nerve caused by optic chiasm compression using optical coherence tomography and to evaluate its ability in identifying this pattern of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) loss.

Methods: Twenty eyes from 16 consecutive patients with band atrophy of the optic nerve and permanent temporal hemianopia due to chiasmal compression, and 20 eyes from an age and sex matched control group of 16 healthy individuals, were studied prospectively. All patients were submitted to an ophthalmic examination including perimetry and evaluation of the RNFL using optical coherence tomography. Mean RNFL thickness around the optic disc was compared between the two groups.

Results: The mean (SD) peripapillary RNFL thickness of eyes with band atrophy was 101.00 (9.89) µm, 62.21 (12.71) µm, 104.89 (12.60) µm, and 50.13 (16.88) µm in the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal regions, respectively. The total RNFL mean was 79.94 (7.17) µm. In the control group, the corresponding values were 140.10 (16.06) µm, 86.50 (12.17) µm, 144.60 (15.70) µm, and 97.94 (16.02) µm. The total RNFL mean was 117.72 (9.53) µm. The measurements were significantly different between the two groups. Measurements in each of twelve 30° divisions provided by the equipment also showed significantly different values between eyes with band atrophy and normal controls.

Conclusions: Optical coherence tomography was able to identify axonal loss in all four quadrants as well as in each of the twelve 30° segments of the disc. Thus, it seems to be a promising instrument in the diagnosis and follow up of neuro-ophthalmic conditions responsible for RNFL loss, even if predominantly in the nasal and temporal areas of the optic disc.

Abbreviations: BA, band atrophy; OCT, optical coherence tomography; RNFL, retinal nerve fibre layer; SLP, scanning laser polarimetry; VA, visual acuity; VF, visual field

Keywords: band atrophy; chaismal lesion; optical coherence tomography; pituitary tumour; retinal nerve fibre layer

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

BJO at a glance

Creig Hoyt
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2004 88: 853. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Cettomai, D., Pulicken, M., Gordon-Lipkin, E., Salter, A., Frohman, T. C., Conger, A., Zhang, X., Cutter, G., Balcer, L. J., Frohman, E. M., Calabresi, P. A. (2008). Reproducibility of Optical Coherence Tomography in Multiple Sclerosis. Arch Neurol 65: 1218-1222 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Choi, S. S., Zawadzki, R. J., Keltner, J. L., Werner, J. S. (2008). Changes in Cellular Structures Revealed by Ultra-high Resolution Retinal Imaging in Optic Neuropathies. IOVS 49: 2103-2119 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vessani, R M, Cunha, L P, Monteiro, M L R (2007). Progressive macular thinning after indirect traumatic optic neuropathy documented by optical coherence tomography. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 91: 697-698 [Full Text]  
• Danesh-Meyer, H. V., Carroll, S. C., Foroozan, R., Savino, P. J., Fan, J., Jiang, Y., Vander Hoorn, S. (2006). Relationship between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Visual Field Sensitivity as Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography in Chiasmal Compression. IOVS 47: 4827-4835 [Abstract] [Full Text]