Short-term observations of the effects of ocular surgery and systemic chemotherapy to treat retinoblastoma

Abstract

Objective A short-term observation study of ocular surgery with or without systemic chemotherapy to treat retinoblastoma (RB). Method The clinical data of 66 RB cases treated at Beijing Tongren Hospital from August 2006 to September 2007 were retrospective reviewed. All patients received ultrasound (B scan/CDI), radiology examination (CT scan/MRI) and RetCam retina examination, and classified according to the International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification (IIRC) method. Focal therapies (include laser and cryotherapy) were applied to Group A, systemic chemotherapy (CCTV protocol, Cyclosporine, Carboplatin, Teneposide and Vincrinstine) plus ocular surgery (include focal therapy, enucleation and orbital exenteration) to Group B, C, D and E. Patients were followed-up for more than 6 months. Result Of 66 cases (36 male/30 female), 16/66 cases were bilateral RB and 50/66 were unilateral. Follow up period was from 6 to 13 months (mean time 8. 6 month). According to IIRC, there were 5 eyes in Group A, 6 eyes in Group B, 5 eyes in Group C, 15 eyes in Group D and 51 eyes in Group E (include extraocular disease). 22/82 eyes were conserved at the end of follow up, including 5/5 (100%) of group A, 6/6(100%) of group B, 5/5(100%) of Group C, 4/15(26.7%) of Group D and 2/51(3.9%) of Group E. 5/66 (7.6%) patients died during this period, they all were in Group E. Conclusion Ocular surgery combined with systemic chemotherapy is an effective method to treat retinoblastoma. The consequences depends on the classification with higher conservative rate of eyeballs in early and middle stage (Group,A, B, C), and lower rate in late stage (Group D and E). Key words: Retinoblastoma/surgery; Retinoblastoma/drug therapy