[Successful treatment of retinoblastoma]

Abstract

The author analyzes the therapeutic results in 57 patients with retinoblastoma during a 30-year period in 1967-1996. The following therapeutic methods were used: enucleation, external radiotherapy, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, photocoagulation and cryopexy. By comprehensive treatment up to 84.2% survival of patients was achieved, 8.8% patients died from metastases of retinoblastoma, 5.2% from secondary tumours and 1.7% from pinealoblastomas. 72.6% affected eyes were enucleated and the remainder was cured with normal visual functions in 71.7% eyes. 48 of the surviving patients are under dispensary care and checked in collaboration by an ophthalmologist and oncologist. The author discusses problems of modern therapeutic strategy the declining frequency of enucleations and the preservation of the eyeball and useful vision.