Abnormalities of scanning laser polarimetry associated with pituitary adenoma.

PURPOSE: To report abnormalities of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using scanning laser polarimetry in patients with pituitary adenoma.

DESIGN

Observational case reports.

METHODS

Two patients with pituitary adenoma who had bitemporal visual field abnormalities were examined using scanning laser polarimetry.

RESULTS

In Case 1, destruction of the normal two-peak pattern in the RNFL thickness was seen nasally by scanning laser polarimetry; this RNFL pattern corresponded well to visual field abnormalities. In Case 2, abnormalities in the RNFL pattern corresponded well to visual field defects not only in the superotemporal fields but also in the inferotemporal fields where the visual field defects were mild.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of RNFL thickness using scanning laser polarimetry provides useful information in the diagnosis of chiasmal lesions such as pituitary adenomas.