Recurrence of retinoblastoma 12 years after brachytherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of retinoblastoma that recurred 12 years after brachytherapy.


METHODS
Interventional case report.


METHODS
A 2-month-old boy presented in December 1983 with bilateral retinoblastoma and was treated with bilateral 198Au plaque radiotherapy, photocoagulation, and cryotherapy. He maintained a visual acuity of 20/200 in both eyes. In December 1995, he had a sudden decrease of vision in the right eye and vitreous hemorrhage with fluffy opacification.


RESULTS
In January 1996, cytopathologic examination of large keratic precipitates in the right eye demonstrated cells consistant with retinoblastoma. The right eye was enucleated and diffuse retinoblastoma was noted histopathologically. Systemic chemotherapy was given, and there has been no local recurrence or extraocular metastasis for 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This case emphasizes that long-term follow-up is essential for managing retinoblastoma after eye-preserving conservative therapy.
Goto
Hiroshi
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. goto1115@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Kousaka
Akiko
A
Takano
Shigeru
S
Usui
Masahiko
M
D001918:Brachytherapy; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003452:Cryosurgery; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006050:Gold Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014792:Visual Acuity
D006050:Gold Radioisotopes