VISUAL IMPROVEMENT DURING OCTREOTIDE THERAPY IN A CASE OF EPISELLAR MENINGIOMA

Meningiomas of the tuberculum sellae can induce compression of the opt ic tract. We report the case of a 54-year-old female patient affected by a suspected pituitary macroadenoma with severe visual field defects , who experienced a significant clinical and visual improvement during short-term octreotide therapy, contrasting with the lack of neuroradi ological evidence for tumor shrinkage. The patient subsequently underw ent transcranial surgery with a final diagnosis of meningioma. The put ative mechanisms of visual improvement during octreotide therapy are d iscussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.