Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer affecting the eye that usually occurs in children under the age of 5. This eMedTV article offers an overview of this condition, including information about its symptoms, its diagnosis, and its treatment.
Common symptoms of retinoblastoma may include crossed eyes, eye pain, and a condition called "white eye." This eMedTV article offers a discussion of these and other retinoblastoma signs and symptoms, including poor vision and different colored irises.
In order to make a retinoblastoma diagnosis, a doctor may perform a dilated eye exam and other tests. This eMedTV article highlights the steps involved in diagnosing retinoblastoma, which may also include other tests such as a CT scan.
Retinoblastoma stages used for treatment purposes include intraocular and extraocular. This eMedTV article defines these stages and discusses tests used in the retinoblastoma staging process.
Examples of retinoblastoma treatments include enucleation (surgery), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. This eMedTV segment discusses treatment of retinoblastoma, including information about treatment options, side effects, and follow-up care.
It's important to know whether the retinoblastoma is intraocular or extraocular when planning treatment. This eMedTV article breaks down retinoblastoma treatment by stage of the disease and provides links to additional information.
In cases of retinoblastoma, radiation treatment may involve methods such as proton beam radiation therapy. This eMedTV Web page discusses some of the different types of radiation treatment used to treat retinoblastoma.
A retinoblastoma prognosis is a medical opinion as to the course and outcome of the disease. This eMedTV resource discusses factors that may affect a person's prognosis for retinoblastoma, such as the number of tumors and whether vision can be saved.
For those dealing with retinoblastoma, support from various sources can help them cope with the cancer. This eMedTV segment discusses retinoblastoma support groups and suggests other possible sources of support for help coping with the disease.
At this point, there is no routine, effective retinoblastoma screening test; however, as explained in this eMedTV article, there are tests available to detect the disease in people suspected of having the cancer (or those with risk factors for it).
In the case of retinoblastoma, research is being conducted on new treatments of the cancer. This eMedTV Web page describes retinoblastoma treatments being studied, such as high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant.
It can be difficult to remember all the retinoblastoma questions to ask the doctor. This eMedTV segment provides lists of questions people may wish to ask their doctor concerning treatment of retinoblastoma.
