Radiation therapy for retinoblastoma

The present study was conducted on 132 patients at the Department of Radiotherapy of the National Cancer Center Hospital, during the 17 years from 1962 until the end of 1979. They underwent radiotherapy as initial treatment for retaining eyes affected by retinoblastoma. The 5-year eye retention rate was 50% for the unilateral disease and 83% for the bilateral disease, a significantly more favorable rate for the bilateral type. The 5-year survival rate was 96% for the unilateral group and 85% for the bilateral group, a significantly higher survival rate for the unilateral disease. In patients followed up for more than 5 years after radiotherapy, 33 eyes were evaluated for development and severity of cataracts; 40% of the cataracts were of moderate or marked severity. Five patients (3.7%) had secondary cancer in and near the irradiated field. (author)