Points that merit consideration in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma

According to the clinical appearances and the characteristics of the onset of 86 Rb cases, some points in the diagnosis merit consideration: 1) Since the average symptomatic age was 21.75 months and the mean diagnostic age was 24.32 months, children under 3 years with leukocoria should be carefully examined, while adult Rb should not be neglected. 2) The primary symptom of Rb is mostly leukocoria, but Rb eyes without any symptoms or leukocoria (26 out of 105 eyes in our groups) might also be encountered. 3) 4 out of the 86 cases were retinocytoma which is supposed to be a type of Rb degeneration or benign Rb. 4) Attention should be paid to abnormalities and second primary tumors in Rb patients. 5) The pedigree investigations, twin method and laboratory studies in Rb such as chromosome analysis, EsD, LDH measurement and RFLP technique are useful in the prenatal diagnosis, early diagnosis and the diagnosis of the carriers.