Treatment of retinoblastoma vitreous base seeding.

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to describe results of a new treatment for retinoblastoma vitreous base seeding. The study design was a retrospective review of patients treated at an ocular oncology referral center. Five eyes of five patients with vitreous base seeding that occurred after previous external beam radiation therapy were treated between October 1987 and December 1994. A customized plaque made from iridium-192/platinum wire was placed to deliver 4000 cGy to the tumor apex along its entire length and systemic chemotherapy (consisting of carboplatin, vincristine, and etoposide) was given. Eye preservation and tumor control were measured. Vitreous base seeding was controlled completely and the eye preserved in four of the five treated eyes with an average follow-up of 26.2 months. The combination of a customized iridium-192 plaque and systemic chemotherapy is an effective means of treating vitreous base seeding of retinoblastoma.