Eye cancer in children (retinoblastoma)

Retinoblastoma is an uncommon form of eye cancer that affects young children.. We specialize in diagnosing and treating retinoblastoma and provide national care for these patients.

Retinoblastoma is an uncommon form of eye cancer that affects young children. In most of the children only one eye is affected, but a third of the patients get tumors in both eyes.

In most cases, patients with retinoblastoma have a good prognosis. St. Erik Eye Hospital specializes in diagnosing and treating retinoblastoma and ocular melanoma (eye cancer in adults). We are responsible for Sweden's national ophthalmic oncology and ophthalmic pathology service and provide the only ophthalmic pathology laboratory in Sweden.

Retinoblastoma can be hereditary, and therefore genetic counseling may be necessary. If a child has been treated for bilateral retinoblastoma, the child's family is usually referred to the department of clinical genetics at Karolinska University Hospital to determine whether relatives carry the condition. It is important, for example, if there are more children in the family.

The first and most common symptom of retinoblastoma is that the pupils look different; the normally black pupil becomes whitish. Some children with retinoblastoma also have strabismus.

In the case of suspected retinoblastoma, the ophthalmologist thoroughly examines the eye to establish a diagnosis.

To confirm the diagnosis of retinoblastoma, we Perform an examination under general anesthesia, where both eyes are examined. We examine the pressure in the eyes, perform ophthalmoscopy, ultrasound and wide field images.

All treatment for retinoblastoma strives to preserve the greatest possible visual function and avoid the spread of the tumor outside the eye.

The treatment is either medical, focal or surgical, and often a combination. The chosen form depends on how widespread the disease is, the age of the child and whether the child has tumors in one or both eyes.

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St. Erik Eye Hospital

A visionary eye hospital offering highly advanced ophthalmology care.