Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne for the treatment of human retinoblastoma combining chemotherapy and/or laser photocoagulation.
Methods: :
eight eyes of 8 cases (4 boys and 4 girls) with retinoblastoma received photodynamic therapy with Visudyne for the treatment of human retinoblastoma singly or combining chemotherapy and/or laser photocoagulation. They were aged from 1.8 to 14 years. 3 cases were bilateral. PDT with Visudyne was performed according to the parameters of TAP study but energy of 120J/cm2. The size of tumor body ranged from 1.5 to 8 disc diameters, 3 tumor bodies were less than 3 disc diameters, 5 tumor bodies were more than 3 disc diameters. All cases were followed up for 4 to 5 years.
Results: :
All tumor body responded to PDT in some extend. Some cases showed regrowth after a period of time. The average PDT time was 1.5 (1 to 3 times). 3 cases with tumor bodies less than 3 disc diameters were totally controlled and there were free of tumor body or only scar tissue ophthalmoscopically. The other 5 cases with tumor bodies more than 3 disc diameters had to receive eyeball enucleation finally through multiple treatments and combining therapies.
Conclusions: :
Photodynamic therapy with Visudyne had treatment effect on retinoblastoma and could be one choice for the conservative treatment method in early stage. But retreatment and combining other therapies should be considered when the tumor body shows regrowth.
Keywords: retinoblastoma • tumors • retina