[Lymphomatous optic neuropathy (author's transl)].

Seven cases of involvement of the optic nerve in malignant lymphoma are reported. These may be classified into two types according to the type of optic nerve lesion, i.e., orbital and intracranial lymphomatous optic neuropathy. Characteristic ocular symptoms in cases of orbital lymphomatous optic neuropathy are as follows: 1) rapidly progressive exophthalmos, 2) symptoms similar to orbital phlegmone, 3) rapidly progressing and marked impairment of vision with central scotoma, and 4) recovery of visual function after treatment. Ocular symptoms in cases of intracranial lymphomatous optic neuropathy are as follows: 1) as an initial symptom, cranial nerve palsy, 2) subsequently, rapidly progressing impairment of vision and 3) after unilateral impairment of vision, bilateral impairment within a few weeks. -- Furthermore, the causes of impaired vision are discussed with reference to histopathological findings in the two autopsy cases.