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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
In vivo growth of retinoblastoma in a newborn infant
Parag K Shah1, V Narendran, N Kalpana
1Pediatric Retina and Ocular Oncology Department, Aravind Eye Hospital & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer, requires prompt treatment. This case highlights tumor growth during a one-month delay in chemotherapy for a neonate with jaundice, underscoring the urgency of retinoblastoma diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Retinoblastoma is a rare but aggressive childhood retinal malignancy.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for favorable outcomes.
- Delayed treatment can lead to tumor progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a unique case of retinoblastoma in a neonate.
- To document tumor growth during a treatment delay.
- To emphasize the importance of timely retinoblastoma management.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a five-day-old infant diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
- Observation of tumor progression over one month due to delayed chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy initiated after resolution of physiological jaundice.
Main Results:
- The retinoblastoma tumor demonstrated measurable growth during the one-month delay in treatment.
- Physiological jaundice necessitated a delay in initiating chemotherapy.
- Successful chemotherapy was administered upon resolution of jaundice.
Conclusions:
- This case underscores the rapid growth potential of retinoblastoma.
- Prompt diagnosis and initiation of treatment are crucial, even in the presence of confounding conditions like neonatal jaundice.
- Timely intervention is paramount for managing pediatric retinoblastoma effectively.
Abstract:
Retinoblastoma is a rare malignancy of the retina seen exclusively in children. It is known to cause rapid growth inside the eye and hence treatment should be started as soon as it is diagnosed. We report a case in a five-day-old infant in whom treatment (chemotherapy) was delayed by a month due to high bilirubin levels secondary to physiological jaundice, which gave us the unique opportunity to measure the growth of the tumor over a month. This case emphasizes that immediate treatment is warranted once this rare disease is diagnosed.
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