Distinguishing Optic Neuritis and Optic Perineuritis: A Pictorial Review

Both optic neuritis (ON) and optic perineuritis (OPN) are distinct entities with the idiopathic forms having different clinical presentations, imaging appearances, and treatment courses. Additionally, they are both associated with different diseases, each with different underlying pathophysiology and appropriate management. ON is associated with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated disease. OPN is associated with giant cell arteritis and infectious neuritis. In this article, we review these common entities, their etiologies, imaging appearance, mimics, and lesser known vasculitis and rheumatologic associations, to ultimately provide a comprehensive review on ON and OPN.

Learning Objective: To describe the distinguishing imaging characteristics of both ON and OPN.