Bitemporal Hemianopsia in Ethambutol-Induced Optic Neuropathy

PURPOSE: To report three cases with bitemporal hemianopsia after using ethambutol to treat tuberculosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old male with chronic renal failure and tuberculous pleurisy, a 57-year-old male with diabetic retinopathy and pulmonary tuberculosis, and a 59-year-old male with diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis were referred for evaluation due to decreased visual acuity for several months after taking ethambutol to treat tuberculosis. All 3 patients had abnormal color vision and visual evoked potential in both eyes. Visual field showed bitemporal hemianopsia with or without central scotoma. Brain imaging tests were normal. Although ethambutol was discontinued in all three patients, one patient with renal disease showed further decrease in visual acuity and visual field worsened to total field defect. CONCLUSIONS: Ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy is a wide spectrum disorder and based on our cases, can present as bitemporal hemianopsia mimicking compressive chiasmal lesions. A thorough history should be taken and immediate discontinuation of ethambutol is recommended in cases when bitemporal hemianopia occurs.

A Large Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm Presenting with Bitemporal Hemianopsia

Anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms sometimes present with visual symptoms when they rupture or directly compress the optic nerve. Giant or large ACoA aneurysms producing bitemporal hemianopsia are extremely rare. Here we present an unusual case of bitemporal hemianopsia caused by a large intracranial aneurysm of the ACoA. A 41-year-old woman was admitted to our neurosurgical department with a sudden-onset bursting headache and visual impairment. On admission, her vision was decreased to finger counting at 30 cm in the left eye and 50 cm in the right eye, and a severe bitemporal hemianopsia was demonstrated on visual field testing. A brain computed tomography scan revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage at the basal cistern, and conventional cerebral catheter angiography of the left internal carotid artery demonstrated an 18x8 mm dumbbell-shaped aneurysm at the ACoA. Microscopic aneurysmal clipping was performed. An ACoA aneurysm can produce visual field defects by compressing the optic chiasm or nerves. We emphasize that it is important to diagnose an aneurysm through cerebrovascular study to prevent confusing it with pituitary apoplexy.

Bitemporal Hemianopia Associated with Anti-Tuberculosis Medication

No abstract available.

A Case of Primary Empty Sella Syndrome Associated with Visual Symptom

Empty sella syndrome shows partial or total loss of pituitary tissue and enlargement of the sella turcica due to incomplete diaphragm sellae and herniation of subarachnoid space through the defect. This syndrome usually occurs in obese, hypertensive, and cephalgic women, but it is often asymptomatic. We report a case of primary empty sella syndrome diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging scan with literature review in 57-year-old female patient who had had unilateral cataract operation and presented with bilateral visual disturbance and bitemporal hemianopsia at postoperative 2 months.

Arachnoid Cyst in Sylvian Fissure Presented with Bitemporal Hemianopsia

The anterior middle fossa is the most common location of benign intracranial arachnoid cysts. In the adult, headache, temporal bulging, and mild proptosis are the usual presenting complaints, although seizures and contralateral weakness have been described. Bitemporal hemianopsia associated with this lesion has not been noted previously. Herein we describe the patient with bitemporal hemianopsia associated with sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst. Cystoperitoneal shunt was beneficial. The etiology, histology, and suggested therapy of other patient with arachnooid cyst are also discussed.