Abstract
Background
Transorbital ultrasound was used to diagnose acute optic neuritis (AON) at bedside
in an emergency department (ED).
Case Report
A 59-year-old female patient presented to an ED after 7 days of progressive unilateral
visual loss while she was receiving outpatient treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple
sclerosis. Transorbital ultrasound revealed a disparity between the optic nerve sheath
diameters of the affected and nonaffected eyes and striking optic nerve edema in the
affected eye. These findings led to a diagnosis of AON and early definitive treatment.
Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?
Given an absence of reliable diagnostic criteria for AON, comorbidity with multiple
sclerosis, and limitations inherent to magnetic resonance imaging, transorbital sonography
may facilitate diagnosis of this condition in emergent presentations.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 19, 2019
Accepted:
April 24,
2019
Received in revised form:
April 11,
2019
Received:
December 7,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- Bedside Ophthalmic Ultrasonography to Diagnose Acute Optic NeuritisJournal of Emergency MedicineVol. 58Issue 5