Ocular brachytherapy in the treatment of retinoblastoma. Experience in the Hospital Infantil de México

Abstract

Objective: To describe results and complications of salvage eye treatment with brachytherapy in patients with diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma (Rb) and only one eye. Methods: Case series where we included all retinoblastoma patients treated with ocular brachytherapy with Iodine-125 at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico after failure of eye salvage with intravenous chemotherapy, focal transpupillary laser o transconjunctival cryotherapy and external beam radiotherapy. Results: We analyzed 7 patients, 2 females and 5 males. Two had hereditary retinoblastoma and all had bilateral disease. Mean follow-up after treatment was 5.35 years (range 3.3–11 years). Tumor control was achieved in five of seven patients; two patients undergone enucleation due to failure to achieve tumor control. One of the patients died because of secondary neoplasm. Conclusions: Ocular brachytherapy treatment in a tertiary care center offers possibilities of ocular preservation in patients with bilateral Rb and maximum oncological treatment.