[The ophthalmological symptoms of chiasmatic gliomas in children in the pre- and postoperative periods].

The paper outlines the ophthalmological symptomatology in 61 children aged 2.5 to 15 years who had great and giant chiasmal gliomas. The ophthalmological symptomatology among the first clinical manifestations was found in 86.9% of cases and remained prevalent throughout the follow-up. There was a correlation between the status of visual functions and the site of a tumor. The tumor affected mainly the chiasma in 6.6% of cases, the chiasma and the both optic nerves in 26.2%, the chiasma and an optic nerve in 62.2%. The ophthalmological and neurological symptomatologies are of value in choosing a surgical treatment. A subtotal and partial removal of the tumor was performed in 51 and 10 patients, respectively. Its removal resulted in an improvement and stabilization of visual functions in 14.3 and 41.1% of cases, respectively. Thirty-three patients were followed up for 4 months to 8 years. Visual improvement occurred in 36.4% in the late period. There was a relapse in 9.1% of cases.