Persistent Retinal Detachment in Retinoblastoma: The Challenges

INTRODUCTION: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common eye tumor in children. There have been significant improvements in treatment options targeting killing the tumor while also conserving the eye and attempting to conserve functional vision. Retinal detachment (RD) is not an uncommon event and compromises the vision and sometimes RB treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 62 patients over a period of 8 years between 2012 and 2019 with eyes treated for RB and having persistent RD that did not resolve after complete tumor regression. RESULTS: Forty-two patients of these 62 cases developed RD (67%). The RD resolved in 35 patients (83% of RD), and 7 patients (16% of RD) developed a persistent RD. In all the persistent RD groups (7 patients/11 eyes), RB and RD were present simultaneously in the first ophthalmological assessment. Sex ratio was 2 females/5 males. The mean age of diagnosis was 11 months. All eyes had advanced RB stages. Eight eyes had local treatment with transpupillary laser, 6 eyes received IAC, and 3 patients received systemic chemotherapy. In 9 eyes, the RD had both exudative and tractional components. Only one eye had a pure tractional RD due to persistent fetal vasculature, and one eye had rhegmatogenous RD component with presence of a tear in addition to exudation. None of the eyes received RD surgical repair. CONCLUSION: Persistent RD occurs in eyes with advanced RB stages with complex RD with more than one component. The dilemma is performing a vitrectomy in eyes with cancer and poor visual outcome.