title: [Conservative treatment in patients with unilateral retinoblastoma].
abstract: THE AIM of our study was to evaluate results of conservative treatment of patients with unilateral retinoblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty one patients, 11 boys and 10 girls aged 2 months to 4, 5 years (median age 1 year) were studied. Local disease advancement according to Reese-Elsworth was defined in all patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of Vincristine, Etoposide and Carboplatin was administered. After every 2 courses tumour response was evaluated. Sixteen patients were treated with chemotherapy alone. Local treatment including brachytherapy, thermochemotherapy and cryotherapy was implemented and the choice of the method depended on the tumour's localization, size and response to chemotherapy. Statistical analysis using demographic data and survival curves were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On completion of treatment all patients achieved tumour regression. Eleven patients are progression free with a follow-up from 10 months to 6 years 4 months (median--2 yrs 5m). In 10 patients relapse was observed. A total of seven enucleations were performed in the examined group. In histopathological examination viable tumour cells were present in all removed eye balls. Distant metastases were not observed in any of these patients. All patients are alive with a follow-up from 10 months to 9 yrs 6 months (median--4 yrs 7 months) from diagnosis. Disease free survival and ocular survival is 44% and 54% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in unilateral retinoblastoma allows to avoid enucleation in some patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Onkologii, Instytut Pomnik Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka, Al. Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-730 Warszawa, Poland. o.rutynowska@czd.pl
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rutynowska-Pronicka
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hautz
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brozyna
authors.forename: Bozenna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dembowska-Bagińska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drogosiewicz
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stypińska
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perek
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011044:Poland; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin