title: External beam irradiation for retinoblastoma: patterns of failure and dose-response analysis.
abstract: Eighteen children with retinoblastoma (25 eyes) were treated with external beam radiation at the Mayo Clinic between January 1977 and January 1987; 15 eyes were in groups I to III and 10 were in groups IV and V (Reese-Ellsworth classification). The median number of tumors per eye was 3. Radiation therapy consisted of 4- or 6-MV photons. Doses varied from 39 to 51 Gy in 1.8- to 3.0-Gy fractions. Fourteen eyes were treated through lateral fields by anterior segment-sparing techniques, and 11 eyes were treated by an anterior approach with no attempt at anterior segment sparing. All patients survived (median follow-up, 31.5 months). Cataracts developed in five eyes at a median of 23 months, four in eyes treated with anterior segment-sparing techniques. Of the 15 group I to III eyes, 6 required additional treatment; 4 were salvaged with cryotherapy or photocoagulation and 2 were enucleated. Of the 10 group IV and V eyes, 8 required additional treatment; 4 were salvaged with cryotherapy or photocoagulation, 1 with persistent disease is being followed closely, and 3 were enucleated. Ten (71%) of the 14 eyes treated with anterior segment-sparing techniques required additional treatment (9 of the 10 for tumors anterior to the equator). Four (36%) of the 11 eyes treated with an anterior approach required additional treatment (3 of the 4 for tumors in the posterior pole of group IV or V eyes). Ninety percent of the tumors 10 disc diameters or smaller (1 disc diameter = 1.6 mm) were controlled independently of dose and fractionation used when they were not in the low-dose area of the anterior retina of an eye treated with an anterior segment-sparing technique. We find that use of lateral, anterior segment-sparing techniques has a high risk of anterior retinal tumor development and cataract formation and should be abandoned in favor of techniques that treat the entire retina. A dose of 45 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions appears to be adequate for local control of tumors smaller than 10 disc diameters. Larger tumors may require additional treatment.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Foote
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Garretson
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schomberg
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Buskirk
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Earle
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*