The localising value of optic neuritis in intracranial tumour / by J.M. Martin.

  • Martin, J.M.
Date:
[1897]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The localising value of optic neuritis in intracranial tumour / by J.M. Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    From this it will be seen that I have been able to collect only 55 cases useful for this purpose, but in future a much larger proportion will be available, as the amount of swelling of ttie papilla is being measured in each eye much more accurately than has been done in the past. Yet even here there are quite sufficient data to justify one in stating abso- lutely that the seat of lesion is probably on the side on which optic neuritis is more marked in the proportion of 71 to 29. If we take the first three groups in the table among which we have the largest number of cases the results are as follows: total on the side of the lesion, 26; on the side opposite to the lesion, 5 ; total, 31. The percentage in favour of the lesion being on the side of the optic neuritis is 84. Turning now to the question of the effect of the nature of the tumour in producing optic neuritis, I have in Table II. (small figures above referred to) included the number of cases in which optic neuritis was absent or very slight in connexion with each kind of tumour in each region. The individual numbers are too small to give any satisfactory results, but on taking the totals the percentages are sufficiently striking to be worth noticing (Table VI.). Table VI. — No. of tumours. Optic neuritis absent. Percentage. Tuberculous 72 26 36 Sarcomata 126 32 25 Gliomata 82 15 18 Glio-sarcomata 30 8 27 Cystic 44 8 18 Carcinoma 11 2 18 Gumma 36 8 22 Hydatids 21 3 14 Total 422 102 24 The conclusions then are : (1) that optic neuritis is most often absent if the tumour is tuberculous ; and (2) that optic neuritis is most frequently present if the tumour is a glioma, is cystic, or is a hydatid. The last set of statistics I have worked out is that in relation to strabismus in cases of intra-cranial tumour; there were only thirty cases in which I could get a clear idea of this condition from the reports ; the result is as follows (see Table VII.). Hence in cases in which internal strabismus is noticed the tumour is generally on the same side. Before bringing my paper to a close I will sum up the general results which I have obtained:—1. That 688 per cent, of all cases of intracranial tumour are among males. 2. That the most common form of intracranial growth is