Childhood Optic Nerve Sheath Meningiomas

Primary optic nerve sheath meningiomas have been considered rare tumors In childhood. Because they share many clinical signs of the more frequent optic nerve glioma, diagnostic confusion Is common. Although orbital meningiomas are often regarded as tumors of adults and optic nerve gliomas as tumors of children, recent Information suggests that primary optic nerve meningiomas are not only more common In the pediatric age group than once thought but also behave more aggressively than similar tumors In adults. We report two patients who exemplify the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas encountered In managing this tumor In the pediatric patient.