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Neuro-Ophthalmic Presentation of Neurosurgical Disease in Children

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Common Neurosurgical Conditions in the Pediatric Practice

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Abstract

The neuro-ophthalmic examination is an invaluable tool that opens a window on diseases of the brain. In the pediatric population in particular, patients may be too young to communicate effectively, or may be completely nonverbal. As a result, children will often not be able to explain symptoms or neurologic difficulties that they are experiencing. Therefore, the objective signs found through analysis of eye movements, visual fields, and visualization of the optic nerve head may be the only evidence of pathology in the central nervous system. With a careful screening of neuro-ophthalmic function, a determination of which patients require neuroimaging and ultimately, referral to the neurosurgeon is more easily made. This chapter reviews the most salient neuro-ophthalmic symptoms and signs and the appropriate management of each.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 1450 San Pablo Street, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Dara M. West M.D.

  2. Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 3000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Dara M. West M.D.

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 1305 York Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Marc Dinkin M.D.

  4. Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 520 E 70th St, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Marc Dinkin M.D.

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 520 E 70th St, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Marc Dinkin M.D.

Authors
  1. Dara M. West M.D.
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  2. Marc Dinkin M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marc Dinkin M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Jeffrey P. Greenfield

  2. Manhattan Pediatrics, New York, New York, USA

    Caroline B. Long

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West, D.M., Dinkin, M. (2017). Neuro-Ophthalmic Presentation of Neurosurgical Disease in Children. In: Greenfield, J., Long, C. (eds) Common Neurosurgical Conditions in the Pediatric Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3807-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3807-0_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3805-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3807-0

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