Sudden Dispersion of Retinoblastoma Shortly after Initial Chemotherapy Treatment

Reut Parness-Yossifon*, Paul J. Bryar, Joanna L. Weinstein, Divya Srikumaran, Marilyn B. Mets

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To present 3 cases of unilateral retinoblastoma that demonstrated unusual tumor dispersion shortly after initial chemotherapy treatment. Design: Observational case series. Methods: Review of medical records of patients in whom intraocular dissemination of retinoblastoma occurred after initial treatment with chemotherapy. Results: Three patients demonstrated an atypical response with intraocular dissemination of retinoblastoma shortly after 1 cycle of chemotherapy. All cases had unilateral retinoblastoma with no vitreous seeding or subretinal fluid at presentation. In 2 cases (Cases 2 and 3), there were a few distant subretinal seeds. Per the International Classification of Retinoblastoma, 1 tumor was group E (Case 1), and the other 2 tumors were group D1 (Cases 2 and 3). In 2 cases (Cases 1 and 2), chemotherapy included a 2-drug regimen of carboplatin and etoposide; in the third case, a 3-drug regimen of carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine was used. In each case, the retinoblastoma dispersed with tumor cells in the vitreous shortly after initial chemotherapy treatment, leading to subsequent enucleation of the eye. Conclusions: Retinoblastoma can exhibit an unexpected and sudden dispersion of the tumor shortly after chemotherapy is initiated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)903-906
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican journal of ophthalmology
Volume147
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2009

Funding

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness Inc, New York, New York. The authors indicate no financial conflict of interest. Involved in design of study (P.B., M.B.M.); collection of data (R.P.-Y., P.J.B., M.B.M.); analysis and interpretation of the data (P.J.B., J.L.W., M.B.M.); and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript (R.P.-Y., P.J.B., J.L.W., D.S., M.B.M.). The Institutional Review Board of Children's Memorial Hospital's Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research, acting as the Privacy Board, waived the need for approval of this retrospective study.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

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