Retinoma, Retinocytoma, and the Retinoblastoma Gene

In this issue of theArchives, Margo et al (p 1519) described the pathologic findings in six cases of a "benign retinal tumor" that occurred in five children. Tumor samples from these patients were studied by light and electron microscopy and tested for S-100 protein, a glial-cell tissue marker. This study highlights yet another fascinating manifestation of the retinoblastoma gene while fueling another controversy—the naming of such a tumor. For years, the concept of spontaneous regression of retinoblastoma has been widely quoted and commented on. The phenomenon was probably first reported by Fuchs1in 1908. More recently, Gallie et al2found the incidence of spontaneous regression to be as high as 1% or 2%, a figure that may be 1,000 times more frequent than in all other malignant disease.3Or is it? What is the true incidence of spontaneous regression of malignant tumors? It is obviously higher