Recurrent Optic Nerve Pilocytic Astrocytoma: A Rare Case.

Pilocytic astrocytoma is a low grade glioma that affects mostly children and young adults and can occur anywhere in the central nervous system. Pilocytic astrocytoma of the optic nerve is an equally indolent subtype that is often associated with Neurofibromatosis Type I (NFI). A 40-year-old male presented with left sided axial proptosis and exposure keratopathy. MRI revealed a mass in left proximal orbit, extending posteriorly abutting the chiasma and the right optic nerve on MRI. Enucleation of the left eye along with near total excision of intracranial part of the mass was performed. Histopathology report was suggestive of pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO Grade I). Interestingly, his records showed evidence of surgery for removal of the optic nerve pilocytic astrocytoma twice (27 years and six years ago). We hereby, present an unusual case of recurrent pilocytic astrocytoma of the optic nerve in absence of NFI.

Morphometric Analysis of Peripapillary Thickness in Hypertensives and Normotensives using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).

INTRODUCTION: Hypotension following antihypertensive treatment is associated with retinal nerve fibre loss. There are studies that have reported the changes in RNFL in hypertensives. AIM: To compare the Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) thickness using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in hypertensive and normotensive individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2012 to September 2014 to compare the RNFL thickness using SD OCT in hypertensive {no other ocular or systemic co-morbidity, vision better or equal to 6/9 (n=30)} and normotensive (n=30) individuals. RESULTS: Statistically significant RNFL loss was detected in hypertensives (98.31 ± 7.01) when compared to the normotensives (102.51 ± 8.72) p=0.001. CONCLUSION: Significant loss of RNFL in hypertensives point towards the altered autoregulation and warrants larger studies to assess the clinical relevance.