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Test for Retinoblastoma

Doctors use a variety of methods to test for retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina that is diagnosed most often in children under the age of 5 and very rarely seen in adults. Even among children, the cancer is relatively rare, with roughly 300 cases diagnosed in U.S. children every year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

  1. Nature of the Disease

    • Retinoblastoma targets the retina, a layer of light-sensitive nerve tissue located at the rear of the eye, according to MayoClinic.com. The retina captures varying degrees of light as they come through the front of the eye and then transmits signals through the optic nerve to the brain, where they are translated into images. This cancer begins when nerve cells that ordinarily would die off periodically and be replaced by new ones continue to grow, eventually forming a tumor. If not diagnosed and treated early, retinoblastoma can metastasize and spread beyond the eye.

    Signs & Symptoms

    • Retinoblastoma can affect one or both eyes. Common symptoms, according to MedlinePlus, include white spots in the pupil; vision difficulties; redness and inflammation; crossed eyes; a difference in color of the iris from one eye to the other; and a white glow in the eye in flash photographs that in normal individuals would appear as red eye. Because these symptoms are similar to those of other eye conditions, your doctor probably will order various tests to determine if retinoblastoma is present.

    Family History & Visual Exam

    • As the first step in diagnosis of retinoblastoma, your doctor should take a detailed family history, checking to see if there is any occurrence of this or other cancers among family members. Next, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the doctor will do a visual exam of the eyes, shining a light in each eye to see if that telltale white glow can be seen. If this preliminary exam turns up any indication of retinoblastoma, the doctor will order further tests to confirm such a diagnosis.

    Imaging Tests

    • The next phase of testing, according to the ACS, involves various imaging tools, including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scans. Ultrasonography uses sound waves to detect the presence of tumors, while CT scanning is an elaborate form of X-ray that produces cross-sectional views of specific body parts. MRI scans also produce detailed views but use magnets and sound waves rather than radiation. If cancer is detected, a bone scan might be ordered to determine if the disease has spread to the skull or other bones.

    Treatment & Prognosis

    • Treatment will depend on the size and site of the tumor, according to MedlinePlus. Small tumors confined to the eye can be excised with laser surgery. If the cancer has spread to adjacent tissue, then chemotherapy and/or radiation is likely to be ordered. In some cases, the eye must be removed. If this cancer is confined to the eye, the outlook for a complete cure is very good. The outlook becomes problematic if the malignancy has spread.

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