Microsurgical Treatment of Optic Nerve Metastasis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Metastatic lesions to the eye and optic nerve have incidence of 12% and are observed predominantly in patients, diagnosed with breast and lung cancer. However, isolated involvement of the optic nerve by breast cancer metastasis is much rarely reported with only 13 cases reported in the literature by 2013, according to Cherkaev et al., that were often preoperatively misdiagnosed. Herewith we present a rare case of optic nerve metastasis in a previously diagnosed breast cancer patient. Review of the literature was done with analysis of the diagnostic difficulties that these cases present and the role of the neurosurgeon in the management of the patients.