Characteristics of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy in glaucoma, optic nerve sheath meningioma, and sphenoid wing meningioma

Abstract

Abstract Background/objectives The correct classification of a slowly progressing optic atrophy can be challenging. The aim of this work was to find out if the characteristics of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness loss differ between open angle glaucoma (POAG), optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM), and sphenoid wing meningioma (SWM). Methods A total of 45 patients with POAG, ONSM, and SWM were included in the retrospective study. The peripapillary RNFL thickness measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was analyzed using the Heidelberg Engineering glaucoma module©. Results Each group consisted of 15 patients. The temporal sector of the RNFL thickness showed a median decrease of − 17 µm in glaucoma patients (range + 6/–34 µm), − 43 µm in ONSM (range − 19/ − 52 µm), and − 44 µm in SWM patients (range − 25/ − 52 µm). The RNFL thickness of the temporal sector of glaucoma patients differed significantly from the other groups (p < 0.001). All other sectors showed no significant difference between the 3 groups. Conclusion The peripapillary RNFL thickness of the temporal sector of patients with beginning to moderate POAG is usually inside normal limits or borderline. In contrast, patients with ONSM and SWM are much more likely to show a considerable reduction in RNFL thickness of the temporal sector. RNFL thickness of the temporal sector marked outside normal limits occurred exclusively in meningioma patients. Considering the presence of this condition as a predictor for meningioma, sensitivity and specificity were 0.8 and 1.0, respectively. In patients with significant reduction in RNFL thickness of the temporal sector, magnetic resonance imaging of the head should be considered to rule out compression of the optic nerves.