Retinoblastoma is a rare type of cancer of the eye that tends to affect young children, usually under the age of five years. It develops in the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. To ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment, it is important to understand retinoblastoma, its symptoms, and treatment options.
What is retinoblastoma?
Retinoblastoma is caused by immature cells in the retina that can grow out of control and form a tumour. This type of cancer can be either hereditary (germ-line) or non-hereditary (sporadic). In the hereditary form, a mutation in the RB1 gene is present in all cells of the body, which increases the risk of developing retinoblastoma in both eyes and other types of cancer later in life. It usually only affects one eye and has a lower risk of being associated with other types of cancer.
Symptoms of retinoblastoma
Some of the early signs of retinoblastoma may include
Leukocoria:
A whitening of the pupillary colour when exposed to light, often seen in photos.
Strabismus:
A misalignment of the eyes, more commonly known as crossed eyes.
Vision problems:
Poor vision or loss of vision in the eye that is affected.
Eye redness and swelling:
Inflammatory or swollen area around the eye.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of retinoblastoma involves a detailed eye examination by an ophthalmologist, often using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, MRI or CT scans to confirm the presence and extent of the tumour. Especially if a hereditary form is suspected, genetic testing may also be carried out.
Does retinoblastoma have a cure?
Retinoblastoma generally has a good prognosis, especially if it is caught early.
Treatment options
Chemotherapy: This is applied in the reduction of the tumour’s size to enable other treatment processes to take place.
Laser therapy (photocoagulation): It used focused laser beams to pin point accurately on small tumor, and a blast it to destruct.
Cryotherapy: It is used to eliminate and encapsulate cancer cells in small tumor masses.
Radiotherapy: Surgical, where it is applied in excision of big tumors or in internal usage, normally referred to as brachytherapy.
Surgery: In extreme circumstances it can be lethal and one may need to have the affected eye surgically removed in order to avoid spreading of cancer.
Advances in treatment
For patients with retinoblastoma, the associated medical technology and treatment procedures have evolved over the years to afford higher rates of survival as well as the preservation of the patient’s eyes. Parental education about the necessity of eye checkups and the proper time for early diagnosis of this disease are of great concern, especially if there is a family predisposition to retinoblastoma.
Living with retinoblastoma
After the treatment is completed, follow up to check on the reoccurrence of the cancer or any complication that may arise is encouraged.
Psycho social and sight restoration services for children who have been affected by retinoblastoma can also be provided to increase their functionality in the society.
Summary
Retinoblastoma therefore is a high risk cancer, though manageable if diagnosed in good time. If the disease is detected early and the appropriate treatment is instituted, often with the use of associated methods of contemporaneous treatment, many children with retinoblastoma can be treated and allowed to lead normal lives. That is why increasing people’s awareness about the symptoms and the necessity to recognize such states as early as possible can only contribute to better results of the treatment for children all over the world. At Iris Eye Care in Moshi, we specialize in Retina Treatment in Moshi, provide complete care and advanced treatment options for retinoblastoma. Our dedicated team of experts is committed to early diagnosis and personalized treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcomes for our young patients.
