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INTRODUCTION: Pituitary adenoma is a common benign tumor representing 8 to 10% of intracranial mass lesions. The compressive optic neuropathy associated with a pituitary adenoma can be clinically indistinguishable from glaucomatous optic neuropathy. CASE REPORT: A 56-year-old man with no significant past medical history had noticed a rapid decrease in visual acuity for 6months. Funduscopic examination revealed glaucoma-like bilateral, asymmetric optic cupping. Brain MRI examination revealed a pituitary tumor compressing the optic chiasm. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of a compressive optic neuropathy associated with a pituitary adenoma can be difficult, since it often simulates chronic glaucoma. However, several features should alert the clinician to the possibility of a compressive optic neuropathy and prompt neuroimaging, in order to obtain earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Service d'ophtalmologie, faculté de médecine de Tunis, université de Tunis El Manar, CHU Habib Thameur, 8, rue Ali Ben Ayed Montfleury, 1008 Tunis, Tunisie. Electronic address: moniacheour@yahoo.fr.
Full article10 Differential diagnosis e.g. anterior and posterior ischemic optic neuropathy