Trilateral retinoblastoma: an institutional experience and review of the literature

Abstract

Background

Retinoblastoma is the most common pediatric intraocular neoplasm. The association of uni- or bilateral retinoblastoma with synchronic or metachronic ectopic midline intracranial tumor [trilateral retinoblastoma (TRB)] is uncommon.

Materials and methods

MR examinations of 202 children with retinoblastoma treated at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. MR images and clinical data of children with TRB were evaluated for the patient’s age at diagnosis of the intracranial tumor and intraocular lesions, tumor size, signal characteristics, and further course in follow-up MR examinations.

Results

There were three patients with TRB in our group of patients. All three children had had a negative family history. Two of them had a primary midline intracranial tumor and intraocular lesions at the time of the first diagnosis. In the third case, the first diagnosis was intracranial midline primitive neuroectodermal tumor. Diagnosis of lesions in both eyes was confirmed in ophthalmologic examination 1 month later. In one case, the intracranial tumor was in the pineal region and, in the other two cases, in the sellar and suprasellar regions. There was no evidence of leptomeningeal spread of the tumors in any patient.

Conclusions

Patients with uni- and bilateral intraocular tumors should receive brain screening by MR imaging. We also recommend that patients under the age of 4 years with midline tumors should be carefully diagnosed for ocular neoplasms.