Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2025
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
Incidental detection of retinoblastoma from accidental trauma in children
Yuxin Fang1, Qiyan Li1, Chengyue Zhang2
1Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing TongRen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Insights
Less than 1% of retinoblastoma (RB) cases followed trauma, often presenting in advanced stages. Misdiagnosis occurred in over a quarter of trauma patients, highlighting the need for thorough examinations to avoid delayed RB treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Retinoblastoma (RB) is a rare eye cancer in children.
- Trauma is sometimes reported before RB diagnosis, prompting investigation into this association.
- Understanding RB misdiagnosis in trauma patients is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case series of retinoblastoma (RB) preceded by trauma.
- To determine the incidence of trauma preceding RB diagnosis.
- To investigate clinical characteristics and causes of RB misdiagnosis in trauma patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of consecutive retinoblastoma (RB) patient records from 2006-2015.
- Analysis of trauma characteristics: age, site, sex, and RB laterality.
- Evaluation of RB suspicion/detection at initial trauma and rates of misdiagnosis.
Main Results:
- 0.8% of 3780 RB patients had preceding trauma (n=30).
- Most trauma cases involved ocular trauma (20/30) and presented in advanced RB stages (C, D, E).
- Misdiagnosis occurred in 26.7% of trauma patients, with blunt ocular trauma leading to enucleation in 7 cases.
Conclusions:
- Trauma precedes a small fraction of retinoblastoma (RB) cases, which are often unilateral and advanced.
- Thorough differential diagnosis, considering non-trauma related conditions, is essential.
- Comprehensive pre-procedural examinations are critical to prevent misdiagnosis and guide appropriate RB management.
Background:
To report a case series of patients who were diagnosed with retinoblastoma (RB), which was preceded by trauma, in a large multicenter cohort and to investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and causes of RB misdiagnosis.
Methods:
The medical records of consecutive patients with RB between 2006 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Characteristics of trauma patients, including their age at initial trauma, site of trauma, sex, and RB laterality, were analyzed.
Results:
Among 3780 patients, 30 (0.8%) experienced systemic or ocular trauma prior to the detection of RB. The median age was 20.7 months, and the median follow-up time was 6 years. There were 2 eyes in stage A, 2 in stage B, 3 in stage C, 12 in stage D, and 15 in stage E. The remaining 2 eyes had extraocular RB. A total of 20 patients experienced ocular trauma, 9 patients experienced head trauma, and 1 patient experienced trauma in other body parts. RB was suspected or detected in 22 patients (73.3%) at the time of primary trauma occurrence, and 8 patients (26.7%) were misdiagnosed with RB during their first visit. Among them, all experienced blunt ocular trauma, and enucleation was performed in 7 patients in which 1 patient died.
Conclusions:
Less than 1% of the patients experienced systemic or ocular trauma before RB was detected. The majority were unilateral and in advanced stages. Differential diagnoses that are not trauma-related must always be considered, and comprehensive examinations must be conducted before diagnostic and therapeutic intraocular procedures are initiated.
