Endoscopic Endonasal Excision of an Optic Pathway Cavernous Malformation: Technical Case Report.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Cavernous malformations (CMs) are angiographically occult low-flow vascular malformations that infrequently involve the optic pathway and the hypothalamus (OPH). CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 23-yr-old male presented with bitemporal hemianopia due to chaismal apoplexy. Imaging revealed a CM involving the OPH. The CM was resected by an extended endonasal approach. The patient had improvement in his visual field defects, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a gross total resection of the CM. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the surgical technique of endoscopic endonasal resection of a CM involving the optic pathway.