Visual results and ocular complications following radiotherapy for retinoblastoma
P. R. Egbert, S. S. Donaldson, K. Moazed and A. R. Rosenthal
Between 1956 and 1974, 28 children with retinoblastoma have been irradiated
with the linear accelerator at the Stanford University Medical Center.
Twenty-seven children (96%) have been cured of their tumor, with follow-up
ranging from 2 1/2 to 21 years. In these survivors, 50 eyes were affected.
Twelve were treated by primary enucleation and 38 were irradiated. Sixteen
of the 38 irradiated eyes (42%) were ultimately enucleated for recurrent
tumor, neovascular glaucoma, or inability to observe the tumor through
opaque media. Thus, 22 (58%) irradiated eyes were saved. Of these, five
eyes had visual acuity of 20/40 or better, five had 20/50 to 20/100, nine
had 20/200 to hand motion, and three had light perception or no light
perception. Radiation therapy can sterilize the tumor and maintain useful
vision in many children with retinoblastoma.
