The surgical management of retinoblastoma.

Overview

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy of childhood. Present survival rate is 92%. The role of surgery in the management of retinoblastoma is limited to therapy of retinoblastoma as the diagnosis is usually without histopathological confirmation. There has been a trend in recent years to surgical techniques which have enabled the treatment of the intraocular tumor without the destruction of the function of the eye. The following surgical techniques, indications and complications are discussed: exenteration, enucleation, diathermy, Xenon arc photocoagulation, cryopexy and the use of local cobalt 60 plaques.