Optic glioma of childhood: Natural history and rationale for conservative management

Abstract

Prolonged follow-up of 36 children with optic glioma confirms that the tumour is congenital, non-neoplastic, and self-limiting, and has a good prognosis for life. Visual impairment, present at the time of diagnosis, does not change appreciably thereafter. Excision of such a tumour should be undertaken only to control proptosis in a blind eye. Life cannot be prolonged by irradiation or transcranial procedures on the tumour.