Benign optic nerve gliomas in an adult: A case report.

RATIONALE: Benign optic nerve gliomas were rarely found in adults, and total resection of these lesions seems impossible. We aimed to share a rare clinical case with an unusual and instructive treatment process.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 52-year-old woman complained of a 4-month history of visual disturbance. Automated perimetry revealed visual field defect in her both eyes.

DIAGNOSIS: This patient was diagnosed with optic nerve glioma. We found its pathological features consistent with the pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO grade I).

INTERVENTIONS: A total resection of the tumor was smoothly performed.

OUTCOMES: Repeat MRI 3 months after the surgery demonstrated no recurrence of the lesion. Two years of postoperative telephone follow-up showed a stable status of improved vision.

LESSONS: We reported this interesting case to show a rare kind of condition regarding optic nerve gliomas in adults, which might help neurosurgeons like us to diagnose and treat these "invisible" tumors.