Retinoblastoma

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Retinoblastoma
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What is Retinoblastoma?

• Retinoblastoma is a disease that causes the
  growth of malignant tumors in the retinal cell
  layer of the eye. (3)
• It is the most common eye tumor in children.

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Symptoms of Retinoblastoma

• Problems with eye movements (crossed eyes).
• A persistent red irritation in the eye.
• Differences in pupil size, iris color, abnormal
  eye movements, bulging forward of the eyes,
  tearing, and cataract.

• A white spot on the pupil of the eye.(2)

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What Causes Retinoblastoma?

• Retinoblastoma is caused by a mutation on the
  13th chromosome.
• Possibly environmental factors increase
  mutational events at the retinoblastoma gene
  locus. (2)

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Diagnosis

• Untreated, Retinoblastoma is almost always fatal.
• Early examination is key to survival.

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The Prevalence of Retinoblastoma

• Retinoblastoma is a childhood disease.
• There is no known sex or racial predilection.
• Retinoblastoma affects 1 child for every 15,000
  live births. (1)
• 250-350 new cases are diagnosed each year in the
  U.S., 90 of which occur before the age of five.
• Retinoblastoma can be either a hereditary or
  non-hereditary disease

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Treatments (4)

• Chemotherapy
• Cryotherapy (freezing treatment)
• Enucleation ( removal of the eye)
• External beam radiation therapy (radiation
  treatment)
• Localized plaque radiation therapy (radiation
  therapy)
• Photocoagulation (laser treatment)

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Prognosis

• The survival rate for Retinoblastoma patients is
  more than 90.
• This is attributed to earlier diagnosis and
  improved methods of treatment.

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Sources

• 1. Early detection is key to retinoblastoma
  management. Ophthamology Times, 06/15/2001,
  Bol.26 Issue 12, p9, 2p, Murray,Timothy G. Ho,
  Allen C.2. Medicine for the Public The
  Genetics of Cancer, 1993, Vol.90 Issue 3056,
  p1,16p, 3 charts, 10bw

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Sources

• 3. Retinoblastoma http//www.dyo.harvard.deu/mee
  i/P1/RB/RB.html
• 4. Retinoblastoma http//www.meb.uni-bonn.de/ca
  ncernet/100993.html8_TREATMENTOPTIONOVERVIEW