optic nerve pathology

Question 1

Optic nerve glioma

Answer 1

elongated glial cells - resemble hairs - “pilocytic” astrocytoma.
Also see Rosenthal fibers (degenerating eosinophilic filaments, found in ON gliomas and other astrocytomas)

Question 2

cavernous optic atrophy of Schnabel

Answer 2

MC in glaucoma patients s/p acute IOP elevation

• Alcian blue or colloidal iron used to stain this intracystic material
• vitreous thought to penetrate into the parenchyma through the ILM of the ON head to produce this pathologic appearance
• these changes have also been seen in nonglaucomatous elderly pts with generalized arteriosclerotic dz.