Summary:A localized retinoblastoma of the left eye in a 7-yearold girl, was treated by enucleation. She received no additional therapy. Four months later, metastases of retinoblastoma in the lymph nodes, bone and bone marrow were diagnosed. Relapse chemotherapy consisting of three courses of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide and carboplatin led to a second complete remission. Subsequent high-dose chemotherapy with thiotepa, etoposide and carboplatin and autologous stem cell transplantation with CD34-selected stem cells were successful, with no adverse effects. No radiotherapy was given and the girl remains in continuous second remission with a follow-up of more than 4 years. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 653-655. Keywords: metastatic retinoblastoma; haematogenous metastasis; high-dose chemotherapy; autologous stem cell transplantationThe prognosis of retinoblastoma with haematogenous spread into bone or bone marrow is very poor. 1 There are only a few reports of successful therapy for disseminated retinoblastoma. [2][3][4] We describe the case of a 7-year-old girl suffering from relapse of retinoblastoma with metastases in lymph nodes, bone and bone marrow. After treatment, including high-dose chemotherapy, the girl remains in continuous second remission with a follow-up of more than 4 years.
Case reportA seven-year-old girl suspected of having retinoblastoma presented with a 3-week history of leucokoria and divergent strabism of her left eye. The right eye was normal on exam- ination. No cases of retinoblastoma have occurred in her family to date. On tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there was no evidence of extraocular extension, invasion of the optic nerve, or metastases. Enucleation of the left eye was performed. Histological examination revealed a poorly differentiated retinoblastoma with marked choroidal infiltration, but no signs of invasion of the optic nerve or involvement of the sclera. There was no evidence of recurrence in the left orbit or of development of a retinoblastoma in the right eye on subsequent examinations. The girl was given no further treatment. Four months later, a pre-auricular tumour on the left, 1.5 cm in diameter, was observed. The tumour was excised and histopathological examination showed metastatic infiltration of a lymph node with retinoblastoma cells. Bone marrow aspiration was also positive for retinoblastoma cells. Bone scintigraphy showed pathological enhancement in the area of the left temporal skull and in the third thoracic vertebra. MRI of the head and vertebral column showed evidence of metastatic lymphadenopathy in the left pre-auricular region and along both carotid arteries, together with small metastases in the left fronto-temporal, temporal and right parietal skull bones. In addition, there were metastatic lesions of the fourth, fifth and eighth throracic vertebrae as well as of the third lumbar vertebra ( Figure 1A). The spinal fluid was free of retinoblastoma cells. In summary, the girl suffered from a metastatic relapse of her ret...