Long-term follow-up of children with retinoblastoma

Twenty-one pediatric retinoblastoma (RB) patients treated between 1976 and 1994 were evaluated for late treatment-related complications. Median age at diagnosis was 24 months; median age at follow-up was 12 years; median foll ow-up time was 12 years. Of the 21 patients, 14 had unilateral RE and 7 had bilateral RE. Thirteen patients had received external radiotherapy and 8 c hildren were treated by chemotherapy. Twenty-one patients had undergone enu cleation. Radiation-induced cataracts were found in 3 patients, radiation r etinopathy in 1, enucleation and postradiotherapy contracted socket in 1, v ery low visual acuity postradiotherapy in 3, severe hypotelorism in 2, grow th hormone deficiency in 2 neurocognitive disorders in 6, and orbital defor mation due to radiation bone atrophy was moderate-severe in 12 patients. Az oospermia was found in 1 patient treated by cyclophosphamide and vincristin e. The most frequent sequela in this group of RB-cured children were postra diotherapy orbital deformation due to bone atrophy and neurocognitive disab ilities. Late radiation effects must be avoided by using modern, innovative , and more sophisticated radiotherapeutic techniques. Late treatment-relate d complications justify the long-term follow-up of childhood RB survivors.