Tumors of the optic nerve, peripheral nerves, and autonomic nervous system

This chapter reviews neoplasms of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems as they relate to the eye, optic nerve, and orbit. Ocular tissues are potential sites of origin for tumors derived from the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. The tissues of the eye and ocular adnexa are innervated by nerves from the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve and motor fibers from the facial nerve. Within the orbit reside neurogenic derivatives including the ciliary ganglion and Schwann cells, which are also the potential sources of neoplasms and reactive proliferations. The reactive traumatic neuroma is included since it is a hypertrophic peripheral nerve process. The optic nerve is a central rather than a peripheral nerve. It is composed of axons derived from the ganglion cells in the retina, and glial tissue from which gliomas derive. Meningiomas are included because of their origin from the leptomeninges and therefore close alliance with the optic nerve.

Duke Scholars

Author Thomas John Cummings Pathology