Optic neuropathy in imaging

Abstract

The aim of this work is to provide a diagnostic approach to the potential causes of optic neuropathy, focusing on the radiological findings associated with this pathology. Various etiologies have been identified, including inflammatory and demyelinating optic neuritis, developmental and hereditary diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, infectious conditions, post-traumatic causes, ischemic optic neuropathy (with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy being the most common form), and neoplastic etiologies. Optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging play a fundamental role in the diagnosis of optic neuropathy, allowing to distinguish patterns of optic nerve involvement. These studies are essential to locate and characterize the different pathologies, increasing the precision of the diagnosis in diseases presenting optic neuropathy as the main symptom. In conclusion, the findings obtained from magnetic resonance imaging are essential in the differential diagnosis of optic nerve diseases, aiding in the localization and characterization of various pathologies affecting either the optic pathway alone or multiple levels of the central nervous system and thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy.