Walsh & Hoyt: Tumors Involving the Lateral Geniculate Body

Lesions of the lateral geniculate nucleus produce typical visual field defects that are only occasionally found with lesions affecting other portions of the visual sensory system. The field defects are striking, wedge-shaped, horizontal homonymous sectoranopias that may be congruous or incongruous. Ultimately, there is homonymous hemianopic atrophy in the ocular fundi. Most of the tumors that damage the lateral geniculate nucleus are astrocytomas that originate in the deep temporal lobe, although metastatic tumors may also damage this area.