The case material of 42 patients with primary tumors of the optic nerve and chiasm examined at our institution within a 10 year period was reviewed. In each case, the radiologic data and certain clinical information were compiled to determine the role of radiology in the workup of patients with these tumors and to compare the results of various imaging methods. Although different types of information are obtained from each method, late-generation computed tomography provides the most useful and complete information about optic nerve gliomas and intraorbital optic nerve meningiomas. Angiography is also helpful in the evaluation of intracranial optic nerve meningiomas.