Retinoblastoma - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which doctor should I consult to check my child for retinoblastoma?

You can consult an ophthalmologist if you wish to check your child's eyes for retinoblastoma.

2. My child has been successfully treated for retinoblastoma in one eye. There is no other person in our family with retinoblastoma. Should my child undergo continuous surveillance?

Yes. Rarely, even with successfully treated tumors, recurrences can occur. In addition, even a person with a unilateral retinoblastoma can have what is referred to as mosacism (mixed genetic pattern), with a low risk of tumor occurring in the other eye. Hence a regular a regular clinical eye examination and ultrasound examination is recommended.

3. Can a biopsy (cutting a piece of the tissue for pathologic examination) be done in doubtful cases of retinoblastoma?

It can be done, and is performed occasionally. However, it is generally not recommended as there is risk of spread of the tumor beyond the eye.

4. How is ophthalmic artery chemosurgery done?

Under general anesthesia, a small sized catheter (tube) is inserted via the femoral artery (near the groin) and under fluoroscopic observation is guided to the entrance of the ophthalmic artery, into which the chemotherapeutic drugs are injected.


5. Should a child who has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma wear protective eyewear?

Yes. Vision in an eye following retinoblastoma is often compromised. So the eyes should be protected from injury (which could potentially further compromise vision) when outdoors. This is especially important in children with only one functioning eye.

6. If the eye is removed because of retinoblastoma, can an eye transplant help regain vision?

No. During eye transplant, only the outer transparent dome of the eye called the cornea is replaced. The whole eye cannot be transplanted following surgical removal.

7. Why are children with heritable retinoblastoma more susceptible to non-ocular cancers?

In heritable retinoblastoma, every cell in all the organs of the body has one copy of the mutant RB1 gene. Suppression of this gene can predispose to other cancers as well. So suppression of the second allele of this gene can occur in other organs at any time in one's life, resulting in second non-ocular cancers.

8. My child has a unilateral retinoblastoma with a single tumor. There is no family history of retinoblastoma, and both of us parents have been examined and found to be normal. Since this is likely to be the non-heritable retinoblastoma, is genetic testing for my child necessary?

Yes. In some cases of unilateral retinoblastoma, the first "hit" occurs during early formation of the embryo, and this results in a germline mutation, making it a heritable retinoblastoma. In such a case, all the precautions for heritable retinoblastoma have to be taken.

Cite this Article ⇣⇡

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

• APA

  Dr. Annapurna Kumar. (2021, May 14). Retinoblastoma - Frequently Asked Questions. Medindia. Retrieved on May 16, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/retinoblastoma-faqs.htm.

• MLA

  Dr. Annapurna Kumar. "Retinoblastoma - Frequently Asked Questions". Medindia. May 16, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/retinoblastoma-faqs.htm>.

• Chicago

  Dr. Annapurna Kumar. "Retinoblastoma - Frequently Asked Questions". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/retinoblastoma-faqs.htm. (accessed May 16, 2024).

• Harvard

  Dr. Annapurna Kumar. 2021. Retinoblastoma - Frequently Asked Questions. Medindia, viewed May 16, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/retinoblastoma-faqs.htm.