RETINOBLASTOMA

Retinoblastoma is a malignant (canerous) tumor of the retina. The retina is the thin nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye, that senses light and forms images. Retinoblastoma may occur at any age, althought it most often occurs in younger children. Usually before the age of five years. The tumor may be in one eye only or in both eyes. Retinoblastoma is usually confined to the eye and does not spread to nearby tissue or other parts of the body.

Retinoblastoma may be hereditary or nonhereditary. The hereditary form may be in one or both eyes. Most retinoblastoma occuring in only one eye is not hereditary; when the disease occurs in both eyes, it is always hereditary. Because of the hereditary factor, brothers and sisters of children with retinoblastoma may warrant examination to find out if they may develop the disease. If your child has the hereditary type, there is a chance that a second cancer may develop in later years. Your childs prognosis (chance of recovery and of retaining sight) and choice of treatment depends on the extent of the disease within and outside the eye.

Stages of retinoblastoma

Once retinoblastoma is found, more tests will be done to determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to surrounding tissue or to other parts of the body. This is called staging. The patients doctor needs to know the stage of the disease to plan treatment. Although there are several staging systems currently available for retinoblastoma, for the purpose of treatment retinoblastoma is categorized into INTRAOCULAR and EXTRAOCULAR disease.

Intraocular retinoblastoma

Cancer is found in one or both eyes but does not extend beyond the eye into the tissues around the eye or to other parts of the body.

Extraocular retinoblastoma

The cancer has extended beyond the eye. It may be confined to the tissues around the eye, or it may have spread to other parts of the body.

Recurrent retinoblastoma

Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) or progressed (continued to grow) after it has been treated. It may recur in the eye or elsewhere in the body.

How retinoblastoma is treated

There are treatment for all children with retinoblastoma, and most children can be cured. The type of treatment depends on the extent of the disease within the eye, and whether the disease has spread beyond the eye. Treatment options consider both cure and preservation of sight, and including the following:

Go To Page: 1 2