Abstract
BackgroundIntra-arterial chemotherapy has shown promising results and improved the prognosis of retinoblastoma in the developed countries. Here, we aim to report our initial experience, in Egypt, in the treatment of all stages of naïve retinoblastoma with ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC), using melphalan.ResultsThe technique was successful in 23 out of 26 eyes. Overall, a total of 63 treatment sessions were performed. Ophthalmic artery catheterization was performed in 59 treatment sessions, whereas middle meningeal artery catheterization was performed in 4 treatment sessions. Adequate tumor control was achieved in 95.6%. Progression has developed in one eye after the third OAC session. The mean follow-up period was 18.5 months. Recurrence of the main tumor as well as vitreous and subretinal seeds was reported in one eye after 19-month duration. A globe salvage rate of 91.3% was attained. No metastasis was recorded, and all patients were alive within the stated follow-up period.ConclusionA high globe salvage rate along with metastasis free survival and mild complications were achieved. Therefore, our initial experience with OAC in primary retinoblastoma proved to be safe and effective.
Highlights
Intra-arterial chemotherapy has shown promising results and improved the prognosis of retinoblastoma in the developed countries
The superselective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy, which is known as ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC), has introduced by Abramson et al [10]
In the current study, we evaluated our initial experience in Egypt to implement OAC for the treatment of both unilateral and bilateral naive retinoblastoma patients
Summary
Intra-arterial chemotherapy has shown promising results and improved the prognosis of retinoblastoma in the developed countries. Retinoblastoma is the most common pediatric intraocular neoplasm It remains a significant health problem, in the developing countries [1]. For both unilateral and bilateral diseases, enucleation used to be the main treatment strategy to cure patients and maintain their survival [2]. External beam radiation was the alternative treatment procedure that provided globe salvage [3]. This was, Othman et al Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (2020) 51:79 developed by the Japanese [8, 9]. The superselective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy, which is known as ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC), has introduced by Abramson et al [10]
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