Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumour that develops at the back of the eye. It originates in the cells of the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye.
Dr Orlena Kerek last medically reviewed this article in March 2009
Retinoblastoma
On this page
Page options
Retinoblastoma symptoms
The most common signs of retinoblastoma are an abnormal pupil that tends to reflect light rather like a cat's eye, and a squint. The child's vision may also start to deteriorate and the eye may become red, inflamed and sometimes painful.
In two-thirds of cases the cancer is unilateral (affecting one eye). In the rest it's bilateral.
In 95 per cent of children, the tumour develops before the age of five. Occasionally, babies are born with a retinoblastoma. There's an increased risk of developing other tumours later in life.
Retinoblastoma causes
Every year in the UK, 40 to 50 children develop retinoblastoma. Around 40 per cent of cases are caused by an inherited genetic problem - a faulty gene on chromosome 13.
Retinoblastoma treatments
Treatment for retinoblastoma has one of the highest success rates of all childhood cancers - nine out of ten children can be cured. Cryotherapy (a freezing treatment), radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery are used.
Antenatal and postnatal genetic screening can be offered, but testing for the retinoblastoma gene isn't easy because it's large and many different abnormalities may occur.
The test is only offered to those with certain types of retinoblastoma and where babies are known to be at high risk.
Advice and support
- Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
- Tel: 020 7377 5578
- Email: info@chect.org.uk
- Website: www.chect.org.uk
Disclaimer
All content within BBC Health is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the BBC Health website. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. See our Links Policy for more information. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.
See also
Around the BBC
Elsewhere on the web
bbc.co.uk navigation
BBC links
BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
~RS~p~RS~(none)~RS~a~RS~(none)~RS~u~RS~/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/cancer/retinoblastoma1.shtml~RS~r~RS~(none)~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~05~RS~){kind=small}