[Histopathology of the retina, optic fascicle and lateral geniculate body in chronic, bilateral symmetric ischemic Schnabel's cavernous optic atrophy].

The paper is a unique pathological description of a bilateral, symmetric, anterior, temporal ischemic optic neuropathy with the morphological characteristics of cavernous optic atrophy initially described by Schnabel in glaucomatous eyes. The 80-year-old woman had suffered from cardiac insufficiency and diabetes mellitus for many years. She died from sepsis and circulatory collapse due to ischemic colitis, intestinal perforation, and peritonitis. There was widespread arteriosclerosis but no evidence of giant-cell arteritis. Cell loss was demonstrated in both retinas, the chiasm, and in the central lateral geniculate body. These represent a retrograde, descending and ascending optic atrophy, with transsynaptic degeneration in the LGB. A small craniopharyngioma was found by chance in the infundibulum. Neither clinically nor morphologically were there any signs of glaucoma.