Retinoblastoma is eye cancer, which is found on the surface of the retina. New technological advances are being made every day in the treatment of Retinoblastoma, and one of the most common treatments used is cryotherapy, or the freezing of the cancerous tissue.
Children and adults, men and women are all equally susceptible to this type of eye cancer. Generally the two classifications are intraocular and extraocular retinoblastoma. These mean simply that the cancer is either localized to the retina, or it has spread throughout the body.
Studies have shown that in the United States and northern Europe areas, retinoblastoma occurs once in every 15,000 to 20,000 births. About a two quarters of the cases are hereditary and have been linked to a specific gene mutation. The cancer can occur in one or both eyes.
Fatal if left untreated which is most common, the tumors can spread to the brain via the optic nerve. Treatment for retinoblastoma can include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In some cases, the eye must be removed. The overall five-year survival rate for children with retinoblastoma in the United States is 93 percent.
The classification of a specific case and how affected the patient’s vision, work to help the medical doctor’s determine a prognosis. The treatment plan will be developed around these and other factors including the health of the patient and the latest treatment advances.
In order to determine the presence of this cancer in other parts of the body, once retinoblastoma is diagnosed, a lumbar puncture may be performed. Also, a CT scan or MRI will provide information crucial to the patient’s treatment.
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