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Non-Compressive Disorders of the Chiasm

  • Neuro-Ophthalmology (A Kawasaki, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chiasmal dysfunction produces a characteristic clinical picture, regardless of the mechanism. In most cases a compressive lesion is the cause. In occasional cases, however, no such extrinsic mass is found and other possible etiologies must be explored. In some of these cases, the pathologic process is identifiable with appropriate neuroimaging. For example, inflammation, infiltrative tumors, and radiation necrosis produce intrinsic chiasmal enhancement. Chiasmal ischemia may require specialized magnetic resonance (MR) sequences for diagnosis. Chiasmal hemorrhage, trauma and chiasmal herniation typically produce distinctive changes on noncontrasted imaging. In cases of metabolic insult, either toxic or hereditary, radiographic changes are typically absent. In each of these, the correct diagnosis can usually be made with a combination of clinical and radiographic features.

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Conflict of Interest

Valerie A. Purvin has received book royalties from Cambridge University Press. Aki Kawasaki has received a research grant from Egalité; University of Lausanne, honoraria from Springer for editorial service, and book royalties from Cambridge University Press.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Valerie A. Purvin

  2. Glick Eye Institute and Ophthalmology Center, 1160 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Valerie A. Purvin

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Aki Kawasaki

  4. Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Avenue de France 15, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1004

    Aki Kawasaki

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  1. Valerie A. Purvin
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Correspondence to Aki Kawasaki.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuro-Ophthalmology

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Purvin, V.A., Kawasaki, A. Non-Compressive Disorders of the Chiasm. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 14, 455 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-014-0455-7

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