The optic pathway in neurosarcoidosis.

A case is reported of a patient, age 40 yr, with progressive hypothalamic and visual failure. Autopsy revealed widespread multisystemic sarcoidosis with involvement of the central nervous system. The intracranial portion of the optic pathway was diffusely infiltrated by sarcoid granulomas. Comparison of this case with previously reported autopsy and biopsy findings leads to the following conclusions: 1) The intraocular, intraorbital, and intracranial parts of the optic nerves may be involved independently; 2) lesions of the nerve head and of the retrobulbar part of the nerve may be unilateral; and 3) involvement of the intracranial portion is usually bilateral and forms part of more widespread sarcoidosis of the central nervous system.