Retinoblastoma
The suffix in the term clearly gives the sign of cancer.
‘ Retino’ refers to the light sensitive innermost part of the eye and ‘blastoma’ refers to cancer.
WHAT IS CANCER?
Cancer begins when cells start to outgrow the body’s control. Cells in almost any part of the body can become malignant, and can spread to different regions.
WHAT IS RETINOBLASTOMA?
Retinoblastoma is a rarest type of cancer that mostly affects the children, usually before the age of 5. It generally affects only one eye but can also occur in both.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF RETINOBLASTOMA?
The eyes begin to grow well before birth. During the initial phases of development, the eyes consist of cells called retinoblasts, which duplicate to make new cells that fill the retina. At one point, these cells quit duplicating and become mature and functional retinal cells.
On rare occasions, something turns out wrong with this interaction. Rather than maturing, some retinoblasts keep on outgrowing control, shaping a malignant growth known as retinoblastoma.
In approximately 40% of the cases, retinobasts is a result of faulty gene that affects the eyes bilaterally. It can be both inherited and acquired.
In other 60% of the cases, that are not due to faulty gene, only one eye is affected.
The chain of events inside cells that prompts retinoblastoma is complicated; however it quite often begins with a change (transformation) in the RB1 quality. The typical RB1 gene aides hold cells back from outgrowing control, however some change in the gene prevents it from working like it ought to. Based upon when and where the change of the RB1 gene happens, it can bring about 2 unique kinds of retinoblastoma.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RETINOBLASTOMA?
In general, retinoblastoma is noticed before the age of 5 years and it is exceptional for this cancer to advance unnoticed past that age.
- White reflection in the pupil – When the light is flashed in the eye, a white color reflection is visible in the centre portion of the eye that is called pupil.
- Change in iris color
- Squint
- Red or inflamed eye
- Poor vision
- Poor focus
It is important to know that above mentioned symptoms can be a result of some other disorder than retinoblastoma.
HOW IS RETINOBLASTOMA DIAGNOSED?
If it tampers with both the eyes, it’s generally noticed before a child turns 1 year old. Assuming it influences 1 eye, it will in general be diagnosed later (between the ages of 2 and 3).
Investigations to diagnose retinoblastoma are:
- Eye exam and medical history
- X-Rays
- MRI
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT OF RETINOBLASTOMA?
If diagnosed early, retinoblastoma can be successfully treated. 9 out of 10 children are cured easily in such cases.
The treatment is recommended in accordance with the staging of the tumor.
At first, it is intraocular which means that the cancer is within the eye and hasn’t spread out yet. In such cases, retinoblastoma is successfully treated.
In the later stage, it becomes extraocular, which means that the cancer has spread outside the eye in the other parts of the body. In this case, it is complicated to treat the cancer. However, it is a very rare occurrence as it is unusual for retinoblastoma to stay unnoticed for long term.
The advised treatment depends on the size of the tumor.
For tumors of small size:
- Photocoagulation
- Cryotherapy
For treating larger tumors, one or combination of more treatments is advised. They include:
- Chemotherapy
- Bracytherapy
- Surgery