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Retinoblastoma - Retinoblastoma symptom, treatment, causes

Retinoblastoma is a rare malignant neoplasm (cancer) that starts in the immature retina (the light-sensitive lining of theback of the eye) of babies. affecting both eyes in about 25 per cent of cases.

Retinoblastoma results from a genetic disorder that may be inherited or may arise from a new mutation. The condition usually becomes obvious before 2 years of age. The affected eye may be blind and lead to the development of a squint, or the white tumour may be seen through the pupil.

If retinoblastomas are diagnosed and treated before they spread outside the eyeball, more than 90 percent can be cured. Treatment may be by surgical removal of the eye, by destroying the blood supply to the tumour, or by radiotherapy. Some sight can usually be preserved in one eye. Genetic counselling is available for people who have had retinoblastoma and might plan to have children, so that they can assess the risks. Genetic testing of infants of affected families will identify those who carry the gene so that early diagnosis and treatment are possible.

Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the retina . It originates from the retina, the light sensitive layer, in eye. It presents in children up to five years of age, and can even be found in children still in the womb. Retinoblastoma occurs in early childhood and affects about 1 child in 20,000. The tumor develops from the immature retina - the part of the eye responsible for detecting light and color. There are both hereditary and non-hereditary forms of retinoblastoma. IN the hereditary form, multiple tumors are found in both eyes, while in the non-hereditary form only one eye is effected and by only one tumor. In the United States and northern Europe, retinoblastoma occurs once in every 15,000 to 16,000 births. About a quarter of the cases are hereditary and have been linked to a specific gene mutation. Fatal if left untreated, the tumors can spread to the brain via the optic nerve. Treatment for retinoblastoma can include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In some cases, the eye must be removed. The overall five-year survival rate for children with retinoblastoma in the United States is 93 percent.

Retinoblastoma is a particularly sensitive illness as not only is it cancer, but it also exclusively affects our most vulnerable children. Retinoblastoma is a cancerous tumor of the retina, the thin nerve tissue lining the back of the eye which senses light and forms images. Retinoblastoma may be hereditary or nonhereditary. The hereditary form generally affects younger children and may occur in one or both eyes. A child who has tumors in both eyes almost always has the hereditary form of the disease. Retinoblastoma that occurs in only one eye usually is the nonhereditary form, which is more often found in older children. About 75 percent of cases occur in only one eye, and about 25 percent occur in both eyes. Usually retinoblastoma is confined to the eyes and does not spread to other organs or tissues. If a child has retinoblastoma, particularly the hereditary type, there is an increased chance that he or she may develop a second cancer in later years. Parents should therefore continue taking their child for regular medical checkups after the cancer has been treated. A child's prognosis (chance of recovery and of retaining sight) and the choice of treatment for retinoblastoma depend on the extent of the disease within and beyond the eye.

Causes of Retinoblastoma

The common Causes of Retinoblastoma :

• A positive family history is present in 5-10% of children who develop this disease.
• The unaffected gene actually suppresses the development of retinoblastoma .
• This gene name is actually a misnomer because it does not actively lead to retinoblastoma.

Symptoms of Retinoblastoma

Some common Symptoms of Retinoblastoma :

• Crossed eyes.
• Poor vision.
• A red, painful eye.
• The iris may be a different color in each eye.
• pain or redness around the eye(s).

Treatment of Retinoblastoma

• Chemotherapy.
• Surgery.
• Radiation therapy.
• Antibiotics (to prevent/treat infection).
• Supportive care (for the side effects of treatment).
• Phototherapy (uses light to destroy the blood vessels that supply the tumor).
• Enucleation (removal of part or all of the eye or eyes involved with the tumor) .