[Cavernous angioma of the optic chiasm].

A case of an hemorrhagic cavernous hemangioma of the optic chiasma and the adjacent optic nerve in a 23-year-old woman is reported. The visual disturbance has subacute onset following a sudden lateralized headache. Through a fronto-pterional approach, an intrachiasmal hematoma was evacuated. A small cavernous hemangioma was found in the hematoma cavity, and it was totally removed. Visual symptoms improved slightly postoperatively. Cavernous hemangioma involving the optic nerve and chiasma is extremely rare. Only five similar cases have been reported previously.