RETINOBLASTOMA

Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor occuring in the retina of the eye. This disease is found to be genetic related and is commonly associated with children under the age of 5. Patients with retinoblastoma usually show symptoms of leukocoria or white bloches in the eye when exposed to light. Retinoblastoma can occur in one eye or both, however in severe cases, the cancer can spread to the brain by the optic nerve. In some cases, a patient may experience blindness in the effected eye since the retina is an important aspect of vision.


Currently, chemotherapy is the most common treatment for retinoblastoma. Physicians usually try to refrain from removing the effected eye, which was a previously used method of treatment. Other experimental methods such as thermotherapy, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, or laser therapy can be used for treatment, although they have a few disadvantages. For additional information concerning retinoblastoma and the alternative treatments, please search this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoblastoma.