Echographic localization of periocular Carboplatin for treatment of advanced retinoblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
To study ocular ultrasonography as a means to effectively localize periocular carboplatin in patients with advanced retinoblastoma.


METHODS
In a cases series, seven patients diagnosed with advanced retinoblastoma refractory to standard chemotherapy were treated with two to four periocular carboplatin injections. Echographic images were obtained before and after injection.


RESULTS
The periocular carboplatin depot was a discrete homogeneous structure with lower internal reflectivity than the surrounding orbital tissue. The mean maximal juxtascleral height of the drug depot ± SD was 3.3 ±1.4 mm and was located directly posterior to the area of maximal intraocular tumor thickness in all seven patients. Moderate shadowing from calcification was present in one patient. Five patients had a pattern of a thinner pocket of drug visible after subsequent injections.


CONCLUSIONS
Echography is a useful technique to study novel periocular drug delivery. It effectively images the drug in relation to the intraocular tumor, confirming the most effective drug placement for these resistant tumors.
From the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
Colleen M
CM
Cebulla
Armando
A
Alegret
Fiona J
FJ
Ehlies
R Prince
RP
Davis
Ditte J
DJ
Hess
Timothy G
TG
Murray