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Supraselective intraarterial melphalan as the primary treatment for advanced retinoblastoma in older children
Author(s) -
DE FRANCESCO S,
BRACCO S,
GENNARI P,
GALLUZZI P,
CERASE A,
D'AMBROSIO A,
CAINI M,
GALIMBERTI D,
TOTI P,
VENTURI C,
HADJISTILIANOU T
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2011.4163.x
Subject(s) - melphalan , retinoblastoma , medicine , enucleation , ophthalmic artery , chemotherapy , surgery , radiation therapy , radiology , biochemistry , chemistry , blood flow , gene
Purpose To report 4 late retinoblastoma cases treated with supraselective injection of intraarterial melphalan as the primary treatment. In advanced retinoblastoma in older children enucleation remains the most common treatment option although some eyes can be salvaged with combinations of systemic chemotherapy, focal techniques and external beam radiotherapy. Direct infusion of chemotherapy into the ophthalmic artery has be attempted to achieve tumor control and avoid enucleation. Methods The authors prospectively collected data of all retinoblastoma cases treated with selective intra‐ophthalmic melphalan at the Referral Center for Retinoblastoma of Siena, Italy, from 2008 to 2011. Four out of 43 cases (4 eyes out of 49 eyes) of late unilateral advanced retinoblastoma received intraarterial melphalan infusion therapy as the primary treatment. Results Complete remission was obtained in 1 out of 4 cases. Conclusion The role of intraarterial chemotherapy as primary treatment for advanced retinoblastoma in older children remains to be elucidated.