Optic canal enlargement

Optic canal enlargement can be caused by numerous etiologies.

Pathology

The optic canal has an average transverse diameter of 3.6 ± 0.6 mm ¹. The optic canal can be considered enlarged when it is >6.5 mm in transverse diameter ⁴.

Etiology

• glioma of optic nerve
• meningioma of optic nerve sheath
• metastasis
• neurofibromatosis
• aneurysm of the ophthalmic artery
• carcinoma of the ethmoid or sphenoid sinus
• tuberculosis
• sarcoidosis
• increased intracranial pressure
• mucocele of sphenoid sinus ³
• pituitary adenoma
• craniopharyngioma extending anteriorly
• idiopathic orbital inflammation
• retinoblastoma

See also

• optic canal
• optic nerve
• optic nerve enlargement