Malignant teratoma of the optic nerve: case report.

An unusual case of a malignant teratoma of the right optic nerve with extension into the chiasm is presented. The preoperative diagnosis was difficult to establish. Complete removal of the lesion with postoperative irradiation was carried out. Eight months after the operation, the patient developed subarachnoid metastases by the cerebrospinal fluid pathway as well as systemic metastases and died. No local recurrence of the tumor was seen at autopsy. The therapeutic possibilities for these lesions are discussed.