Visual prognosis in macular retinoblastomas.
Since 1979, we have treated 11 patients who had macular retinoblastomas. Two patients eventually recovered 20/20 visual acuity despite the presence of subretinal fluid in the fovea at the time of diagnosis. The diagnosis was made at 11 and 14 months of age, and follow-up periods were ten and seven years, respectively. One case was sporadic and the other was hereditary. Both patients were treated with external radiation; one patient was also treated with chemotherapy. The lesions regressed markedly after treatment. These cases demonstrate that visual prognosis in macular retinoblastomas is not uniformly poor even when a foveal detachment is present. Visual acuity may be good in some cases, which supports the merits of medical treatment rather than enucleation in selected patients.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242.
B L
BL
Lam
G F
GF
Judisch
W M
WM
Sobol
C F
CF
Blodi
D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008266:Macula Lutea; D011379:Prognosis; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014785:Vision, Ocular