Retinoblastoma is a rare type of cancer that arises in one or both eyes of the baby, but which, when it is identified early, is easily treated, without leaving any sequelae.
Therefore, all babies should have a little eye test right after birth, to assess whether there are any changes in the eye that could be a sign of this problem.
Understand how the test is done to identify retinoblastoma.
Main signs and symptoms
The best way to identify retinoblastoma is to do the eye test, which should be done in the first week after birth, in the maternity ward, or in the first consultation with the pediatrician.
However, it is also possible to suspect retinoblastoma through signs and symptoms such as:
- White reflection in the center of the eye, especially in flash photos; Strabismus in one or both eyes; Change in eye color; Constant redness in the eye; Difficulty seeing, which causes difficulty in grasping nearby objects.
These symptoms usually appear until the age of five, but it is very common for the problem to be identified during the first year of life, especially when the problem affects both eyes.
In addition to the eye test, the pediatrician may also order an ultrasound of the eye to help diagnose retinoblastoma.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for retinoblastoma varies according to the degree of development of the cancer, in most cases it is poorly developed and, therefore, the treatment is done with the use of a small laser to destroy the tumor or cold application in the place. These two techniques are performed under general anesthesia to prevent the child from feeling pain or discomfort.
In the most serious cases, in which the cancer has already affected other regions outside the eye, chemotherapy may be necessary to try to reduce the tumor before trying other forms of treatment. When this is not possible, it may be necessary to have surgery to remove the eye and prevent the cancer from growing and endangering the child's life.
After treatment, it is necessary to have regular visits to the pediatrician to ensure that the problem has been eliminated and there are no cancer cells that can cause the cancer to reoccur.
How retinoblastoma arises
The retina is a part of the eye that develops very quickly in the early stages of a baby's development, and stops growing after that. However, in some cases, it may continue to grow and form a retinoblastoma.
Typically, this overgrowth is caused by a genetic change that can be inherited from parents to children, but the change can also happen due to a random mutation.
Thus, when one of the parents had retinoblastoma during childhood it is important to inform the obstetrician so that the pediatrician is more aware of the problem soon after birth, to increase the chances of identifying retinoblastoma early.
