HEALTH GUIDE

Posts Tagged ‘retina’

Retinoblastoma is a tumor of the retina. Retinoblastoma is a malignant eye more common in children. Although this disease can occur at any age, usually develops in young children. Most cases of retinoblastoma occur, and only one eye but both eyes may be affected. If left untreated, retinoblastoma is almost always fatal, hence the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Retinoblastoma can occur in two ways:

An inherited form, where there are frequent tumors in both eyes (or bilateral), sometimes in one eye.

A non-inherited form in which it is a tumor in one eye (unilateral)

Retinoblastoma is linked to chromosome 13 occurs when a retinal cell undergoes a mutation in the RB-May (one tumor suppressor gene). The effect of this mutation, causing the cell to grow out of control and become cancerous.

Mutations in the RB1 gene in autosomal dominant, which means that a copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to increase cancer risk. A person with retinoblastoma can be inherited only one copy of the altered gene from a parent or an altered gene may be the result of a new mutation.

The common presentation is a reflection of the white leucocoria behind the pupil. This is sometimes called Cat’s Eye Reflex. A white glow in the eye, which is often seen in photographs taken with flash, you can instead of the typical red eyes flash; the pupil appears white or distorted. White spots in the pupil, strabismus, red, painful eye is small, and the iris is a different color in each eye.

Some specific investigations such as ultrasound, CT and X-rays, MRI, blood tests, lumbar puncture, bone marrow biopsy, etc, can be performed to confirm diagnosis and to discover the extent of the disease.

Treatment options depend on the size and location of the tumor. Small tumors can be treated with laser surgery. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be needed if the cancer has spread throughout the eye. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for most cases only one side.