Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the eye. It may be hereditary, and one-third of the cases involve both eyes. Retinoblastoma often can be seen by looking at the young person's eye but is usually diagnosed by an examination under general anesthesia using an ophthalmoscope, an instrument used in examining the interior of the eye. The disease tends to remain localized for long periods, but in advanced stages, it can metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body. x-rays, bone marrow examination, MRI, and a bone scan can be done to check for metastases.

If diagnosed early, it is possible to destroy the tumor with radiation therapy and preserve normal vision. If the tumor is so large that there is no hope of maintaining useful vision using radiation, the eye is removed. In cases where both eyes are involved, an attempt is made to preserve vision in both eyes through treatment with radiation. When advanced disease is found in both eyes, an attempt is made to preserve vision in at least one eye. Whenever there is any possibility of useful vision, all efforts are made to preserve it. Chemotherapy, radiation, or both may also be used to treat metastases.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.