Retinoblastoma, a common eye cancer in children

Context

Retinoblastoma is the most common eye cancer occurring in young children.

• The Department of Ophthalmology, at the Advanced Eye Centre has been running a Retinoblastoma Clinic here three days a week, since 1996.

What is retinoblastoma?

• It is the most common cancer in the eye (malignant tumor) in small children. 
• It can occur in one or both eyes and may be hereditary or sporadic.
• It can be life-threatening as well as take away vision if not treated timely and is detected by seeing White Reflex (WR).

Symptoms

• White Reflex in the eye: Pupil that looks white or yellow instead of red when light hits it.
• Squinting: A crossed eye, looking either toward the nose or towards the ear.
• Poor vision: Poor vision with or without WR. The eye may be red or painful also.

How is retinoblastoma detected?

• Ocular ultra-sonography and fundus examination are the immediate OPD procedures.
• Its extent is determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and systemic staging investigations (bone marrow biopsy, CSF, and whole-body PET scan).

How is retinoblastoma managed?

• Retinoblastoma treatment requires a multi-disciplinary approach and this is managed by a team of experts, specialised in taking care of such children.
• Treatment planning is done after a complete clinical examination and classification of the disease (grouping and staging). 
  • Treatment is individualised to each patient.
• Chemotherapy can be delivered intravenously or intra-arterial and is given by the paediatric oncologist and is the most common modality of treatment. 
  • This has to be followed up with local therapy, which is managed by the ophthalmologist using various modalities.