If you take a lot of flash photos of your baby, look closely at their eyes. If the flash left a white spot in one or both pupils, they could have an eye cancer called retinoblastoma.
What is retinoblastoma?
This rare cancer affects about 200-300 children in the U.S. under the age of 5 each year, although it can could occur at any age. Retinoblastoma can be hereditary, but most commonly the cases are not passed on genetically.
It begins by cancerous cells reproducing in the retina of the eye. Your retina is a thin layer of nerve tissue inside of the back of the eye that senses light. The retina provides you with vision by sending signals to your brain.
What are symptoms of retinoblastoma?
Because this cancer mostly affects
very young children, they may not be able to tell you about their eye problems.
Signs you may notice include:
- A white color in the center circle of the eye (pupil) in the light
- Eyes that appear to be looking in different directions (lazy eye)
- Eyeball growing larger than normal
- Eye redness
- Eye swelling
- Cloudy coloring in the iris
How do you test for and diagnose retinoblastoma?
There are a number of exams that can determine if your baby is at risk, most of which can usually be done without a biopsy. Tests include:
- Physical exams and family history
- Eye exams with dilated pupil
- Ultrasound of the eye
- MRI
- CAT scan
What are treatment options?
Though rare, retinoblastoma can spread to other parts of the body and be life threatening.
Treatment depends on your child’s condition. Some of the common treatments are:
- Eye removal surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Heating (thermotherapy) or freezing (cryotherapy) of abnormal tissues
- Chemotherapy
Genetic counseling with a trained professional could help determine the risk of hereditary retinoblastoma for their children.
By: Karen Babos, D.O., M.B.A.
Karen Babos is the Vice President of Clinical Programs and Quality for Walgreens. She is triple-board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative care.
