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. 2010 Apr;25(4):546-51.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.4.546. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

Long term follow-up results of external beam radiotherapy as primary treatment for retinoblastoma

Affiliations

Long term follow-up results of external beam radiotherapy as primary treatment for retinoblastoma

Sang Yul Choi et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

The authors reviewed their experiences of external beam radiotherapy (EBR) as an initial treatment in retinoblastoma patients to determine its long-term effect on subsequent tumor control and complications. A total of 32 eyes in 25 patients that underwent EBR for retinoblastoma were reviewed retrospectively. The patients consisted of 21 boys and 4 girls of median age at treatment of 7.1 months. Radiation doses ranged from 35 to 59.4 Gy. The 10-yr ocular and patient survivals were 75.4% and 92.3%, respectively. Nine of the 32 eyes progressed; 7 of these were enucleated and 2 were salvaged by focal treatment. According to the Reese-Ellsworth classification, 4 of 5 eyes of Group II, 13 of 16 Group III eyes, 2 of 4 Group IV eyes, and 5 of 7 Group V eyes were retained, and of the 32 eyes, 13 had visual acuity better than 20/200. Eleven patients experienced a radiation-induced complication. No patient developed a second malignancy during follow-up. Despite the limited number of patients enrolled, EBR may provide a mean of preserving eyeball and vision for some advanced lesions.

Keywords: Complication; External Beam Radiotherapy; Retinoblastoma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overall and ocular survival.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Midfacial hypoplasia and microophthalmia. (A) Midfacial hypoplasia is noted on the right. (B) CT scan shows smaller eyeball and orbit on the left.

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