Ocular dysmotility after intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma

Pathologic comparisons of enucleated eyes with retinoblastoma after superselective ophthalmic arterial chemotherapy with or without intravenous chemotherapy

AIM

To describe and compare pathologic findings in eyes enucleated after superselective ophthalmic arterial chemotherapy (SOAC) or SOAC with intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) for retinoblastoma.

METHODS

Medical records between January 1st, 2014 and June 30th, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and pathologic findings were recorded. This study included 36 eyes from 22 (61.1%) male and 14 (38.9%) female patients. Nineteen of 36 (52.8%) eyes received SOAC (mean=3, range=1-7) as primary treatment, and 17 of 36 (47.2%) eyes received SOAC (mean=3.7, range=1-10) after IVC (mean=6.1, range=2-11). Tumor extension including choroidal invasion (n=9, 25%), optic nerve invasion (n=5, 13.9%) and anterior segment invasion (n=5, 13.9%) were recorded.

RESULTS

Histopathologic evidence of ischemic damage in the retina and choroid was found in 28 (77.8%) eyes. Thrombosed blood vessels were identified in 9 (25%) eyes, including orbital artery in the retrobulbar orbit (n=1), intrascleral vessels (n=4), and chorioretinal vessels (n=6). Fibrotic changes were found in extraocular muscles (n=5, 13.9%) and optic nerve (n=5, 13.9%). Varying degrees of scleral degeneration were found in all eyes. In statistical analysis, there was no significant difference in clinical and pathologic changes between SOAC group and SOAC with IVC group except for optic nerve invasion (P=0.047).

CONCLUSION

SOAC for retinoblastoma can result in ocular toxicity, and SOAC with IVC do not increase the toxicity but reduced the incidence of optic nerve invasion.

Acute Orbital Compromise after Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy in a Complex Retinoblastoma Associated with 13q Deletion Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

The intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) is increasingly used as a first-line therapy for retinoblastoma. The IAC has proved to be relatively safe. However, many local side effects of IAC have been described.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report describes a local side effect presenting as proptosis and myositis with vascular access difficulty of the middle meningeal artery, in a 2-year-old male with left eye diffuse multifocal stage Vb retinoblastoma complicated with retinal detachment.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

IAC is assured to provide as efficient results in eliminating the tumor as the systemic chemotherapy, without causing the systemic side effects. It has become an alternative to systemic chemotherapy. A better understanding of the local side effects is required.