The role of chemotherapy in treating intraocular retinoblastoma (RB) has rapidly progressed since the last decade. With this approach enucleation or external beam radiotherapy can be avoided in selected cases of intraocular RB. Our study is a retrospective analysis of cases of intraocular retinoblastoma receiving primary chemotherapy and local therapy.
Newly diagnosed cases of intraocular RB were treated with primary chemotherapy followed by local therapy. Out of 75 cases that attended our institution during the period of 6 years from 1998 to 2003, 20 patients had intraocular disease and all of them received primary chemotherapy. 12 of 20 patients had unilateral disease, and 8 had bilateral disease. Reese-Ellsworth grouping was assigned to each of the diseased eye. A total of 28 eyes were treated with primary chemotherapy followed by local therapy.
Among 28 eyes, vision could be preserved in 9 eyes (32%) while enucleation was carried out in 12 eyes (42.9%). Vision preservation was successful in the early stages (RE group I–III) of intraocular disease.
Use of chemotherapy followed by local therapy is effective in preserving vision in intraocular retinoblastoma especially in the early stages (Reese Ellsworth Group I–III).
