Clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of children with unilateral retinoblastoma and intracranial segment of Retrobulbar optic nerve invasion

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of children with unilateral retinoblastoma (RB) and intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion. METHODS: A total of 14 children with unilateral RB and intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion were enrolled in this retrospective study from January 2009 to December 2018. Clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Of 14 cases, there were 7 male and 7 female, ranging in age from 22.85 to 121.97 months (median, 41.03 months). Seventy-one percent of patients came from first-tier cities in China and effected in the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results indicated that all patients presented with thickened and enhanced optic nerve and intracranial segment of optic nerve invasion. Nine patients received comprehensive therapeutic regimen (chemotherapy, eye enucleation, radiotherapy and intrathecal therapy). The patients were followed up to December 2019, with a median follow-up of 20.6 months. The median disease specific survival was 48.99 ± 8.62 months, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 64.3%. Radiotherapy and comprehensive therapeutic regimen had significant impact on survival time (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prognosis of unilateral RB patients with intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion was poor. Chemotherapy and surgical treatment were necessary, but more attention should be paid to radiotherapy and intrathecal therapy for improving prognosis.