Long-term results of local retinoblastoma treatment of the only eyes

Purpose. To evaluate long-term results of local retinoblastoma (Rb) treatment on the only eyes and to determine the predictors of treatment failure using statistical analysis. Material and methods. A total of 77 patients with binocular RB on the only eyes treated with local ophthalmological methods were analyzed. The median patients’ age at the time of treatment was 11 months (from 2 to 62 months). 47 patients were male (61%), 30 - female (39%). The distribution of the eyes by tumor stages was as follows: group A in 35% of cases (n = 27), group B - in 34% of cases (n = 26), group C - in 12% (n = 9), group D - in 19% of cases (n = 15). 55 patients (71%) were treated with laser thermotherapy, 46 patients (60%) - with brachytherapy, 19 patients (25%) - with cryotherapy. In 33 patients (43%) one local method was applied, in 44 (57%) patients a combination of methods was used. Results. Local tumor control was achieved in 97% of patients (n = 75). Complications of local treatment occurred in 14 patients (18%). The most frequent complications were vitreous hemorrhage (n = 6), non-proliferative retinopathy (n = 4) and radiation cataract (n = 4). Overall, 95% (n = 73) of the only eyes were preserved, 4 eyes (5%) were enucleated due to tumor progression (n = 1), phtisis bulbi (n = 2) and total vitreous hemorrhage (n = 1). Using Kaplan - Meier estimates Rb of group D (p = 0.017), prior intraarterial chemotherapy (p = 0.018) and external beam radiotherapy (p = 0.012) showed to be statistically significant associated with local treatment failure. Conclusion. Local retinoblastoma treatment is highly effective and allows to save 95% of the only eyes with low complications rate and to preserve visual functions in children with malignant tumor on the only eye.