What are the current treatment options for retinoblastoma?
Early detection of RB greatly enhances the possibility of a cure and the preservation of the greatest amount of vision, though it can lead to vision loss of one or both eyes. The treatment of RB depends on the size and location of the tumor and whether one or both eyes are involved. With earlier detection and improved treatments, the prognosis for vision and life for RB patients has improved significantly in the past twenty years. However, because the disease is so rare, many pediatricians and primary care providers may not recognize the early signs, and parents rarely notice the subtle changes that may identify a tumor in their child’s eyes. Left untreated, RB tumor nodules grow rapidly, expanding to fill the eye and extending along the optic nerve to the brain, ultimately causing death.
