Papilledema and optic disc pit: The association of two pathologies in one patient

Histologically, optic disc pit (ODP) is described as a small congenital defect in the cribriform plate where a herniation of the dysplastic retina extends to the subarachnoid space in the optic nerve, which is surrounded by a layer of collagen-rich tissue. Approximately 25-75% of cases are complicated by optic disc pit maculopathy (ODPM). The pathogenesis of maculopathies associated with ODP has not been fully elucidated. We present an unusual case of a patient with a history of papilledema secondary to a fronto-temporal meningioma. The patient underwent a successful surgical intervention with resolution of the papilledema 15 years before the detection of an ODP that was associated with retinal detachment in the macular region. Several studies have reported on the importance of intracranial pressure in the development of maculopathies associated with ODP. During the period of intracranial hypertension and papilledema in our patient, the hernia sac that was associated with ODP may have been small, which would have decreased the chances of developing a maculopathy that was associated with OPD.