Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma
The primary job of the retina is to transfer light into electrical impulses and send those impulse traveling through the optic nerve until it reaches the brain where it is converted into images. A retinoblastoma is a tumor within the retina. Retinoblastoma is seen primarily in children from birth to the up to the age of five. The tumor is malignant and can metastasize if gone untreated.
Is it hereditary?
Yes and No. Retinoblastoma has seen a genetic link in approximately 10% of those affected however; the other 90% have no history of family members diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most identifiable, BUT NOT DEFINITIVE, sign of retinoblastoma is the white glow of the eye instead of the common red eye syndrome when having your picture taken. Other signs or symptoms may include, squinting of the eye or crossed eye, pain or redness of the eye.
What are The Treatments?
A definitive diagnosis should be obtained through the use of CT or MR images. Depending on the size of the tumor, the severity of the tumor involvement (e.g. has metastases occurred), if vision can be restored or preserved and the wishes of the parents are areas to be considered when choosing the course of treatment.
Treatment can include:
Enucleation which is the removal of the eye. The child would be fitted with a prosthetic eye.
Radiotherapy may preserve some of the child’s vision but reoccurrence of retinoblastoma is highly probable.
Cryotherapy which is the freezing of the tumor can be used if the tumor is small. The chance that vision will be affected is minimal.
Lastly, chemotherapy is the follow-up therapy to the option that was selected from above. Even with two forms of therapy being delivered, the chance of bilateral involvement and/or reoccurrences is sixty percent.