2. Retinoblastoma is an eye cancer that begins
in the retina — the sensitive lining on the
inside of the eye. Retinoblastoma most
commonly affects young children, but can
rarely occur in adults.
DEFINITION
3. A rare form of eye cancer, retinoblastoma is
the most common form of cancer affecting
the eye in children. Retinoblastoma may
occur in one or both eyes.
4. Retinoblastoma occurs when nerve cells in the retina develop
genetic mutations. These mutations cause the cells to continue
growing and multiplying when healthy cells would die. This
accumulating mass of cells forms a tumor.
Retinoblastoma cells can invade further into the eye and nearby
structures. Retinoblastoma can also spread (metastasize) to other
areas of the body, including the brain and spine.
In the majority of cases, it's not clear what causes the genetic
mutations that lead to retinoblastoma. However, it's possible for
children to inherit a genetic mutation from their parents.
CAUSES
5. Signs of retinoblastoma include:
A white color in the center circle of the eye (pupil) when light is
shone in the eye, such as when taking a flash photograph
Eyes that appear to be looking in different directions
Eye redness
Eye swelling
SYMPTOMS
6. Tests and procedures used to diagnose retinoblastoma include:
Eye exam. The eye doctor will conduct an eye exam to determine
what's causing the child's signs and symptoms. For a more
thorough exam, the doctor may recommend using anesthetics to
keep the child still.
Imaging tests
Consulting with other doctors.
TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS
7. What treatments are best for the child's retinoblastoma depends
on the size and location of the tumor, whether cancer has spread
to areas other than the eye.
TREATMENTS AND DRUGS
8. In children with retinoblastoma, chemotherapy may help shrink a
tumor so another treatment, may be used to treat the remaining
cancer cells. This may improve the chances that the child won't
need surgery.
Chemotherapy may also be used to treat retinoblastoma that has
spread to tissues outside the eyeball or to other areas of the body.
CHEMOTHERAPY
10. When the tumor is too large to be treated by other methods,
surgery may be used to treat retinoblastoma. In these situations,
surgery to remove the eye may help prevent the spread of cancer
to other parts of the body. Surgery for retinoblastoma includes:
SURGERY
11. Surgery to remove the affected eye (enucleation). During surgery
to remove the eye, surgeons disconnect the muscles and tissue
around the eye and remove the eyeball. A portion of the optic
nerve, which extends from the back of the eye into the brain, also
is removed.
Surgery to place an eye implant. Immediately after the eyeball is
removed, the surgeon places a special ball — made of plastic or
other materials — in the eye socket. The muscles that control eye
movement are attached to the implant. After the child heals, the
eye muscles will adapt to the implanted eyeball, so it may move just
as the natural eye did. However, the implanted eyeball cannot see.
12. Fitting an artificial eye: Several weeks after surgery, a custom-
made artificial eye can be placed over the eye implant.
The artificial eye can be made to match the child's healthy eye.
The artificial eye sits behind the eyelids and clips onto the eye
implant.
13. of surgery include:
Infection
Bleeding
Removing an eye will affect the child's vision, though most children
will adapt to the loss of an eye over time.
SIDE EFFECTS
