Optic nerve head drusen: A case of false-positive papilledema discovered by ocular ultrasound in the emergency department

Abstract

Case report A 15-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) from her optometrists office for further evaluation of reported papilledema. The patient was otherwise asymptomatic. A CT scan was performed in the ED which showed calcification of the optic nerve. A bedside ultrasound was also performed which confirmed the presence of optic nerve calcification in both eyes. The patient was discharged with a diagnosis of optic nerve head drusen and instructed to follow- up with her ophthalmologist for continued monitoring of the drusen. Discussion Optic nerve drusen are generally benign lesions associated with pseudopapilledema which may be associated with peripheral field visual defects. Management for this condition in most cases consists of routine ophthalmologic monitoring. There is no definitive treatment for this entity. © Springer-Verlag 2010.