PEDIATRIC OCULAR TUMORS - WHEN SHOULD MAG NETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING BE USED

A pediatric experience in neuro-ophthalmological imaging with CT and M R (1973-1996) is summarized in reference with the 1996 Societe Francai se d'Ophtalmologie scientific report [2]. MRI has became the first ima ging exploration in children clinically suspected of visual pathways t umor. Three technical conditions must be respected : sedation, adaptat ed head spatial orientation (Neuro-Ocular Plane (NOP) and Oblique Tran s-hemispheric Neuro-Ocular Plane (OTNOP)) and high spatial resolution. This non-invasive and total (from the globe to the posterior fossa) a natomical investigation of the visual and oculo-motor pathways is lead ing to the space occupying lesion delineation and its mass effect meas urement. Moreover follow-up MRI is providing the best medical and / or surgical therapeutic cost-efficiency test.