Retinoblastoma is a type of eye cancer. It is mostly affects children under 5 years old. It can affect one or both eyes.
Fig. 1: Retinoblastoma.
HOW COMMON IS RETINOBLASTOMA?
About 300-400 kids get retinoblastoma each year in the USA and Canada. Around the world, about 6000 children get retinoblastoma each year. It affects girls and boys equally.
HOW DO DOCTORS CHECK FOR RETINOBLASTOMA?
Doctors check babies’ eyes before they leave the hospital and at regular checkups. They use a special light to look for the red glow in the eyes and in the back of the eye. It is the same red glow that sometimes makes your pupils (the dark spot in the colored part of the eye) look red in a picture. If something looks wrong with the baby’s eyes, they are sent to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) right away.( see Figure 2) Sometimes children with retinoblastoma get strabismus (lazy eye). All kids with a lazy eye should get their eyes fully checked.
Fig. 2: An infant with leukocoria of the left eye.
HOW DOES A CHILD GET RETINOBLASTOMA?
It happens when there is a problem with a gene. The gene problem causes a tumor to grow. Sometimes, kids get retinoblastoma because their parents pass it down. But most of the time, it just happens on its own. Because it runs in families, brothers, sisters, and kids of people with retinoblastoma should get eye checkups.
HOW DO DOCTORS KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT IS RETINOBLASTOMA?
An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) looks closely at the eyes. They might take pictures or do special eye tests to see the tumor. They try not to use too many X-rays or CT scans because it can cause health problems later in life. A child with retinoblastoma needs to see a doctor who knows how to treat retinoblastoma and other eye tumors.
CAN RETINOBLASTOMA BE CURED?
Yes, most of the time. If caught early and treated well, more than 95 of 100 kids with retinoblastoma can be cured.
HOW IS RETINOBLASTOMA TREATED?
Each kid gets a special treatment plan (Figure 3). The treatment depends on where the tumor is, how big the tumor is and if it has spread to other parts of the body. Treatments for retinoblastoma include medicine (chemotherapy), lasers, radiation, and/or surgery. Only doctors who know a lot about retinoblastoma and eye cancer should treat kids with retinoblastoma. Sometimes many doctors and health care team members are needed to help kids with retinoblastoma.
Fig. 2: Retinoblastoma post-treatment.
SHOULD BROTHERS AND SISTERS BE CHECKED FOR RETINOBLASTOMA?
Yes, all brothers, sisters and parents of kids with retinoblastoma should get their eyes checked. New babies in the family need to be checked early in life.
WHERE CAN FAMILIES WITH RETINOBLASTOMA GO?
When a child has retinoblastoma, it can be hard for the whole family. Here are some support groups that can help:
If you have more questions about retinoblastoma, speak with your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) and check the AAPOS and the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS websites.
More scientific information on retinoblastoma can be found on the EyeWiki Site.
Updated 06/2024
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