RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Mimics and chameleons of optic neuritis
JF Practical Neurology
JO Pract Neurol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 96
OP 110
DO 10.1136/practneurol-2015-001254
VO 16
IS 2
A1 Weerasinghe, Dinushi
A1 Lueck, Christian
YR 2016
UL http://pn.bmj.com/content/16/2/96.abstract
AB Optic neuritis is a common problem and most neurologists are familiar with it. Recent studies have suggested that it can be overdiagnosed in as many as 10% of cases. The major reasons for this relate to confusion regarding terminology and lack of familiarity with common mimics. This article covers typical ‘idiopathic’ demyelinating optic neuropathy (IDON) and several possible variations in the way it can present (chameleons). We then discuss several conditions that can mimic IDON, including neuromyelitis optica, sarcoidosis, chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy, anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, infectious/parainfectious optic neuropathy, neuroretinitis, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, and some ‘ocular’ mimics including autoimmune retinopathy and central serous choroidoretinopathy.