CLINICALLY INVISIBLE RETINOBLASTOMA RECURRENCE IN AN INFANT
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Updated: Mar 7, 2026
Establishment and Propagation of Human Retinoblastoma Tumors in Immune Deficient Mice
Published on: August 4, 2011
Krystal Park1, Kareem Sioufi, Carol L Shields
1Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) detected clinically invisible retinoblastoma recurrence in an infant. This imaging is crucial for early detection and monitoring of retinoblastoma, safeguarding vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children.
- Chemoreduction is a standard treatment for bilateral retinoblastoma, aiming for tumor regression.
Observation:
- A case report details a 3-week-old infant with bilateral familial retinoblastoma treated with intravenous chemoreduction.
- While clinical examination showed tumor regression, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revealed subclinical recurrence in the right eye.
Findings:
- SD-OCT detected a 40 μm increase in thickness and 290 μm increase in basal diameter of the recurrent tumor.
- The recurrence, located 1.85 mm from the foveola, was treated with intraarterial chemotherapy.
- Post-treatment SD-OCT confirmed complete regression to a scar, preserving foveal integrity.
Implications:
- SD-OCT provides precise, submillimeter imaging for monitoring retinoblastoma.
- This technology enables early detection of clinically invisible recurrences.
- SD-OCT is vital for effective surveillance and management of retinoblastoma, particularly concerning foveal preservation.
Purpose:
To report a case of clinically invisible retinoblastoma recurrence detected only on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
Methods:
Case report.
Results:
A 3-week-old girl with bilateral familial retinoblastoma underwent six cycles of intravenous chemoreduction. Both eyes showed tumor regression. After 6 cycles of chemoreduction, the tumor in the right eye appeared with clinical regression; however, by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, there was 40 μm increase in thickness and 290 μm increase in basal diameter. Due to tumor proximity of 1.85 mm to the foveola, the recurrence was treated via intraarterial chemotherapy with two cycles of Melphalan 3 mg. After treatment, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed complete regression of the recurrent tumor to a flat scar with intact fovea.
Conclusion:
Precise submillimeter imaging with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography for monitoring retinoblastoma is important and can allow detection of early recurrences that might be clinically invisible otherwise, as well as surveillance of the fovea.
