title: Retina pathology of a failed external beam-radiated group Vb retinoblastoma.
abstract: We report on a 7-month-old boy who suffered from retinoblastoma with presentation of a white pupillary reflex in his right eye. Initial examination showed a large subretinal and intraretinal mass nasally with extensive vitreous seeding of tumor cells (Group Vb in the Reese-Ellsworth classification). External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) was applied in hopes of preserving the eye, and significant regression with disappearance of vitreous seedings and a prominently decreased tumor mass with localized calcification were documented. Unfortunately total retinal detachment was subsequently identified 3 months after irradiation. The patient ultimately underwent enucleation, and histopathology revealed significant calcification within the residual tumor without marked necrosis; a preretinal fibrous membrane with focal vascular thickening was noted, which implied a partial but incomplete effect of EBRT for this group Vb retinoblastoma. We describe the histopathological findings of the failure of irradiation for a group Vb retinoblastoma, and emphasize the importance of early application of EBRT treatment for a retinoblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsin-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Henry Shen-Lih
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: William Chen-Yen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Howard Wen-Hao
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure