Ophthalmic artery chemosurgery for the management of retinoblastoma in eyes with extensive (>50%) retinal detachment.

BACKGROUND: Superselective delivery of chemotherapy through the ophthalmic artery, i.e. ophthalmic artery chemosurgery, has been used for the treatment of advanced intraocular retinoblastoma. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy of ophthalmic artery chemosurgery for retinoblastoma associated with >50% retinal detachment. PROCEDURE: Retrospective review of 37 eyes of 34 retinoblastoma patients who had extensive (>50%) bullous non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and received ophthalmic artery chemosurgery either as primary treatment or as "salvage" treatment after failed multi-cycle intravenous chemotherapy and/or external beam radiation (mean follow-up, 21 months). Data on patient and ocular survival, complications of ophthalmic artery chemosurgery treatments, time course of retinal reattachment, and serial electroretinograms (ERG) were collected.
RESULTS: A total of 134 ophthalmic artery chemosurgery injections were performed. All children survive. Five eyes (5/37; 14%) were enucleated for progression of disease. The Kaplan-Meier enucleation-free survival rate at 2 years was 87.9% (95% confidence interval, 76.5-99.3%). The retina reattached in 28 eyes (28/37; 76%) and the 30-Hz flicker ERGs improved by >25 µV in seven eyes (7/37; 19%), remained stable (change < 25 µV) in 26 eyes (26/37; 70%), and decreased by >25 µV in four eyes (4/37; 11%). The Kaplan-Meier retinal reattachment rate was 58% after 3 months and three ophthalmic artery chemosurgery infusions (95% confidence interval, 41.9-74.1%).
CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic artery chemosurgery is effective in preventing enucleation, promoting retinal reattachment and preserving or improving retinal function in the majority of eyes with advanced retinoblastoma and >50% retinal detachment that would otherwise be considered for enucleation.