Learning objectives
This article aims to provide useful tools to enable radiologists choose the adequate imaging techniques and to correctly approach the differential diagnosis of pathology involving the structures that compound the visual pathway in patients with visual defects.
Background
Prevalence of visual defects is rising amongst population. It is estimated that 60% of this visual defects are due to treatable or preventable causes, being the ocular globe chronic diseases the most common. Despite this fact, visual pathway dysfunction may be the only or predominant manifestation of a large variety of intracranial disorders including ischemic pathology, inflammatory disease or mass lesions, affecting the visual tract at different levels. Imaging tests make it possible to assess the relevant anatomy and disease of the structures that make...
Findings and procedure details
We put forward and schematic approach of the different anatomic structures conforming the visual pathway and most relevant pathologic entities affecting them.
The optic nerve is the second cranial nerve but technically forms part of the central nervous system, as it contains the same tissue components as the brain. It can be divided into intraocular, intraorbital, canalicular and intracranial segments.
The intraorbital optic nerve has a length of about 4-4.5cm, running posteromedially to the cone formed by the rectus muscles, and enters into the optic...
Conclusion
Knowledge of the anatomy, and symptomatology of disease at different levels of the visual pathway from the optic nerve to visual cortex is crucial to choose the adequate imaging technique and protocol, and for the interpretation and documentation of imaging findings.
Personal information and conflict of interest
J. Cabero Moyano; Sabadell/ES - nothing to disclose E. Granell; Hospitalet De Llobregat/ES - nothing to disclose A. Rovira; Sabadell/ES - nothing to disclose E. Casanovas Navarro; Sabadell/ES - nothing to disclose V. Perez Riverola; Sabadell/ES - nothing to disclose M. Prenafeta; Sabadell/ES - nothing to disclose
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