Retinoblastoma: a three-year-study at a Brazilian medical school hospital

Authors

  • Maria Teresa Brizzi Chizzotti Bonanomi Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Hospital das Clínicas; Divisão de Clínica Oftalmológica
  • Maria Tereza Assis de Almeida Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Hospital das Clínicas; Instituto da Criança,Treatment of Children with Cancer Institute
  • Lilian Maria Cristofani Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Hospital das Clínicas; Instituto da Criança,Treatment of Children with Cancer Institute
  • Vicente Odone Filho Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Hospital das Clínicas; Instituto da Criança,Treatment of Children with Cancer Institute

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322009000500010

Keywords:

Retinal neoplasm, Retinoblastoma, Chemotherapy^i1^sadjuv, cryotherapy, Laser therapy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To present the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with retinoblastoma. METHODS: A retrospective case series was conducted to review the records of all new patients diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2003 and 2005. Eyes with early disease, or advanced disease with potential vision were treated with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) in conjunction with early local therapy (laser or cryo). Radiotherapy was used in cases where the disease did not respond to the above protocols or in recurrent cases. Eyes in the late stage of disease with no potential vision in the initial examination or eyes and where conservative treatment had failed were enucleated. RESULTS: In total, we reviewed 28 new cases of retinoblastoma, 15 of which were unilateral and 13 of which were bilateral (46%). These data correspond to a mean of 9.3 new cases per year (0.77 case/ month). The mean age at diagnosis was 33.8 months for unilateral cases, and 19.15 months for bilateral cases (p=0.015). Leucocoria was the major presenting symptom (75%). All but one patient with unilateral disease had the affected eye enucleated due to advanced disease (mean follow-up: 39.91 months). Among the 13 bilateral cases, 13 eyes (50%) were enucleated, 11 eyes (42.4%) were saved with chemotherapy in conjunction with local therapy and 2 eyes (7.6%) were saved using external beam radiotherapy (mean follow-up: 41.91 months). In unilateral and bilateral disease, pathology data revealed choroid involvement in 50% and 30%, respectively, and optic nerve invasion in 92% and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this population, retinoblastoma was diagnosed too late and most eyes were consequently enucleated. In cases with bilateral disease, half of the eyes were preserved.

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Published

2009-05-01

Issue

Section

Clinical Sciences

How to Cite

Retinoblastoma: a three-year-study at a Brazilian medical school hospital . (2009). Clinics, 64(5), 427-434. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322009000500010