Orbital Development in Children with Retinoblastoma: An Imaging-Based Study

Semin Ophthalmol. 2024 Jul;39(5):369-375. doi: 10.1080/08820538.2024.2312968. Epub 2024 Feb 8.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine whether children treated for Retinoblastoma (Rb) have impaired orbital development.

Methods: A retrospective case series was performed among children with Rb treated at a single medical center from 2004 to 2020. Orbital volumes and measurements were assessed by 3-dimensional image processing software. The main outcome measures were differences in orbital growth between Rb and non-Rb eyes assessed at last follow-up.

Results: Among 44 patients included (mean age 16.09 ± 18.01 months), a positive correlation between age and orbital volume was observed only in the uninvolved, healthy eyes (p = .03). In unilateral cases, orbital growth in the horizontal, vertical, and depth planes was smaller on the affected side compared to the healthy eyes (p < .05). Orbits that underwent enucleation showed decreased growth over time compared to those treated conservatively (p = .017).

Conclusions: Orbital growth rate is slower in the orbits of children treated for Rb compared to healthy orbits. Enucleation negatively affects orbital growth.

Keywords: Orbital growth; orbital volume; retinoblastoma.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Eye Enucleation
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Orbit* / diagnostic imaging
  • Orbit* / growth & development
  • Retinal Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Retinoblastoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinoblastoma* / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed