Functional neuroimaging to characterize visual system development in children with retinoblastoma
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
Scott M Barb1, Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Matthew W Wilson
1Department of Radiological Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA.
Insights
Functional MRI (fMRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) reveal retinoblastoma impacts visual cortex development in children. These neuroimaging techniques may help predict visual outcomes in survivors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neuro-oncology
- Developmental neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for vision and survival.
- The developing visual system is vulnerable to the effects of retinoblastoma and its treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate visual system development in retinoblastoma patients using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- To characterize the impact of retinoblastoma and its treatment on visual cortex function and white matter tracts.
Main Methods:
- fMRI and DTI were performed on 39 children (median age 16.4 months) under sedation.
- fMRI measured visual cortex activation during photic stimulation.
- DTI evaluated white matter tracts, including optic radiations and corpus callosum.
Main Results:
- Predominantly negative blood oxygen level-dependent signal observed in the anterior visual cortex.
- Activation patterns were influenced by tumor characteristics (lateralization, macular involvement, retinal detachment).
- Diffusion parameters showed normal development but with increased variability in the corpus callosum splenium.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal functional neuroimaging demonstrates significant effects of retinoblastoma on visual system development.
- fMRI and DTI show promise for characterizing disease impact and predicting visual outcomes in retinoblastoma survivors.
Purpose:
To use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate visual system development in children being treated for retinoblastoma.
Methods:
Informed consent was obtained for all participants (N = 42) in this institutional review board-approved study. Participants were imaged with a 1.5-T scanner while under propofol sedation. Diagnostic brain and orbital imaging was followed by investigational functional neuroimaging, which included fMRI during photic stimulation through closed eyelids, to measure functional activation in the visual cortex, and DTI, to evaluate diffusion parameters of white matter tracts in the corpus callosum and the periventricular optic radiations. Analysis included 115 examinations of 39 patients with a median age of 16.4 months and age range from 1.5 to 101.5 months at first evaluation.
Results:
The blood oxygen level-dependent signal was predominantly negative and located in the anterior visual cortex. Activation was affected by tumor lateralization (unilateral or bilateral), macular involvement, and retinal detachment. Patients who had undergone unilateral enucleation showed cortical dominance corresponding to the projection from the nasal hemiretina in the unaffected eye. Diffusion parameters followed a normal developmental trajectory in the optic radiations and corpus callosum, but variability was greater in the splenium than in the genu of the corpus callosum.
Conclusions:
Longitudinal functional neuroimaging demonstrated important effects of disease and treatment. Therefore, fMRI and DTI may be useful for characterizing the impact of retinoblastoma on the developing visual system and improving the prediction of visual outcome in survivors.
Related Concept Videos
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...