Dermal-fat graft for anophthalmic socket in children enucleated for retinoblastoma

Abstract

Abstract Retinoblastoma is the most frequent intraocular tumor in childhood. The definitive treatment is enucleation. The management of the anophthalmic socket consists in the use of a plastic implant. The problem is that they are expensive and they usually extrude. The use of dermal-fat grafts minimizes the hemi-facial hypoplasia. They usually grow with the face, and help to expand the orbital bones, thus avoiding the psychological and physical consequences. Objective To determine if there is hemi-facial hypoplasia, using MRI images after the use of a dermal-fat implant in patients enucleated for RB. Method The study included patients enucleated for RB in which a dermal-fat implant was used and MRI images were taken in the period between June 2010 and December 2012. Facial growth and cosmesis was measured. Results The study included 12 patients, aged between 6 and 41 months. After 24 months of follow up, none of them developed hemifacial hypoplasia. All had a good cosmesis with the prosthesis. There were no complications after the surgery. Conclusions The use of dermal-fat implant is a good option for the anophthalmic socket in patients with RB after enucleation.