Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a rare children's cancer affecting the cells of the retina. The disease is often genetic, occurring as a result of a mutation in a parental genetic contribution or in the genetic history. Many cases are not the result of genetics and the underlying cause is unknown.

Fast Facts

1. May be unilateral, in one eye, or bilateral, in both eyes¹
2. 25% of cases are bilateral¹
3. 10% of cases have a family history¹
4. Most are diagnosed before the age of five¹
5. Occurs rarely in adults
6. 90% survive the cancer²

Symptoms

Common symptoms include a whitish reflection sometimes visible from the pupil of the eye, eye pain and redness, poor vision or blindness, having crossed eyes and slow weight gain.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the vision in the affected eye and whether the cancer is unilateral or bilateral. If the cancer is unilateral and the vision in the eye is bad, the eye may be surgically removed to prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. If the cancer is bilateral, chemotherapy is often done first to shrink the tumors and then they are removed or destroyed by surgery, radiation, laser surgery or cryotherapy, which is a tumor freezing technique.²

United States Statistics

Many retinoblastomas are a result of an inherited gene. If a parent is a carrier of this gene there is a 50% chance it will be passed on to an offspring. Genetic retnoblastoma is more likely to affect both eyes and to occur before the child turns one. In cases where there is no genetic involvement it is likely only one eye will be affected.

About 60% of children are diagnosed as infants or toddlers; only five percent are diagnosed after the age of five. The disease occurs approximately once in every 20,000 births. There are about 350 cases each year.^{1 3}

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think your child has retinoblastoma, please consult your doctor.

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