New and recurrent tumors in germinal retinoblastoma: is there a treatment effect?

Patients with germinal retinoblastoma (those with bilateral disease or positive family history) have a mutation which puts them at risk for developing new tumors. It is unclear whether the frequency of new tumor development is effected by the type of treatment employed. It may be hypothesized that external beam radiation "sterilizes' the whole retina, and thus decreases the risk of new and recurrent tumors. We reviewed our experience with 66 eyes in 47 patients over the past ten years. We did not find a significant difference in the incidence of new and recurrent retinoblastoma among eyes treated with external beam radiation versus focal modalities.