Trilateral retinoblastoma with pituitary-hypothalamic dysfunction

Clinical audit of retinoblastoma management: a retrospective single-institution study

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this study was to identify the frequency of death, metastasis, enucleation, and use of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) among retinoblastoma patients. The secondary aim was to determine whether any events were associated with suboptimal clinical management to identify areas for clinical care improvement.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with retinoblastoma between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2015, at The Hospital for Sick Children were included. Medical records of eligible patients underwent a comprehensive 2-part review. First, a chart review collected diagnostic details, treatment course, and occurrence of 4 events: death, metastasis, use of EBRT, and enucleation. Next, events were reviewed in detail, and a multidisciplinary committee reached consensus on cases managed suboptimally.

RESULTS

The study included 209 patients (292 eyes). There were 8 deaths, 11 metastases, 177 enucleations (143 primary, 34 secondary), and 8 uses of EBRT. Thirteen patients were reviewed by the multidisciplinary committee, which confirmed that 5 of these patients had events associated with suboptimal clinical management. Three patients developed metastases leading to death (misdiagnosis and mismanagement of trilateral retinoblastoma [1], parental refusal of enucleation [1], and inaccurate histopathology after primary enucleation [1]). One patient developed extraocular extension related to scleral invasion following aggressive focal therapy. One patient underwent secondary enucleation for a Group B eye related to mismanagement of a treatment complication.

DISCUSSION

Deaths, metastases, and enucleations with documented instances of suboptimal care highlighted a need to enhance medical team and patient communication, histopathology interpretation, laser treatment guidelines, and trilateral retinoblastoma management. Routine clinical audit of retinoblastoma management can identify areas for clinical practice change.

Stem-Cell Therapy Following High-Dose Chemotherapy in Advanced Retinoblastoma: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To analyze the risk and benefit of high-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation (HDCT-SCT) treatment in patients with advanced retinoblastoma.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search from 4 online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Cochrane was done for original studies evaluating the use of HDCT followed by SCT in the treatment of patients with advanced retinoblastoma. The last search was performed on April 15, 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 35 studies consisting of 160 patients were considered suitable for inclusion. After HDCT-SCT treatment, 108/160 (67.5%) patients were alive with no evidence of disease at the last follow-up. The incidence of secondary malignancy in our data was also relatively low, which was 16/160 (10%) patients. The side effects were mainly hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities. The prognosis for metastatic cases especially the one to the central nervous system (CNS) remains poor, as shown in our data that 22 of 44 (50%) patients died due to the evidence of disease, and 12 of 44 (27%) patients acquired CNS relapse and died.

CONCLUSIONS

HDCT-SCT is a promising treatment option in patients with advanced retinoblastoma. The use of HDCT-SCT in CNS metastases needs to be carefully considered, possibly by adding thiotepa or topotecan to improve tumor control. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to draw firm conclusion regarding its safety and efficacy.

Ectopic intracranial retinoblastoma in a 3.5-month-old infant without eye involvement and without evidence of heritability

Heritable retinoblastoma can rarely be associated with a midline intracranial neuroblastic tumor, referred to as trilateral retinoblastoma. We present an unusual midline brain tumor in an infant that was identified as ectopic retinoblastoma by histopathology, DNA methylation analysis, and molecular genetic detection of biallelic somatic inactivation of the RB1 gene. There was no ocular involvement, and germline mutation was excluded. In this nonresectable tumor, treatment with systemic chemotherapy including high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation, but without definite local therapy, resulted in long-lasting tumor control.

Retinoblastoma, the visible CNS tumor: A review

The pediatric ocular cancer retinoblastoma is the only central nervous system (CNS) tumor readily observed without specialized equipment: it can be seen by, and in, the naked eye. This accessibility enables unique imaging modalities. Here, we review this cancer for a neuroscience audience, highlighting these clinical and research imaging options, including fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. We also discuss the subtype of retinoblastoma driven by the MYCN oncogene more commonly associated with neuroblastoma, and consider trilateral retinoblastoma, in which an intracranial tumor arises along with ocular tumors in patients with germline RB1 gene mutations. Retinoblastoma research and clinical care can offer insights applicable to CNS malignancies, and also benefit from approaches developed elsewhere in the CNS.

Minimal disseminated disease evaluation and outcome in trilateral retinoblastoma

Trilateral retinoblastoma (TRb) presents a management challenge, since intracranial tumours are seldom times resectable and quickly disseminate. However, there are no risk factors to predict the final outcome in each patient.

Objective

To evaluate minimal disseminated disease (MDD) in the bone marrow (BM) and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at diagnosis and during follow-up and reviewing its potential impact in the outcome of patients with TRb.

Methods and analysis

We evaluated MDD in five patients with TRb, detecting the mRNA of CRX and/or GD2, in samples from BM and CSF, obtained at diagnosis, follow-up and relapse.

Results

Treatment involved intensive systemic chemotherapy in four patients, one did not receive this treatment and died of progression of the disease. Two patients underwent stem cell rescue. Three patients had leptomeningeal relapse and died. One patient remains disease-free for 84 months. RB1 mutations were identified in the five patients, all of them were null mutations. At diagnosis, one patient had tumour cells in the CSF, and none had the BM involved. Only one case of four presented MDD during follow-up in the CSF, without concomitant detection in the BM. On leptomeningeal relapse, no case had MDD in the BM. In all these cases, cells in the CSF were positive for GD2 and/or CRX.

Conclusion

CSF dissemination always concluded in the death of the patient, without concomitant systemic dissemination denoting the importance of increasing treatment directed to the CSF compartment. The MDD presence could indicate a forthcoming relapse.

Trilateral retinoblastoma: A systematic review of 211 cases

We conducted a systematic review of 72 studies to characterize trilateral retinoblastomas. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate survival, and statistical significance was assessed by using a log-rank test. We analyzed 211 cases of trilateral retinoblastomas. The average age of onset of retinoblastoma was 0.79 ± 1.38 years, and the average latency period between the onset of retinoblastomas and trilateral retinoblastomas was 1.49 ± 1.76 years. The brain tumors were found before the retinoblastoma diagnosis in 6 cases (3.1%), concurrently in 61 cases (32.1%), and after the retinoblastoma diagnosis in 123 cases (64.7%). Pineal tumors were found in 155 cases (73.4%) and sellar tumors in 46 cases (21.8%). The overall median survival was 10.3 months (95% CI, 8.5-13) and the 5-year survival rate was 15.7%. Central nervous system symptoms were variable and associated with shorter survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. The survival time in patients who received high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant was significantly longer (p = 0.0067) than that of with or without conventional chemotherapy. Twelve long-term survivors were reported, and of these, six patients were treated with high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant and six patients were treated with conventional chemotherapy. It is important that survivors continue to undergo regular medical surveillance in order to detect trilateral retinoblastoma at a potentially curative stage. Trilateral retinoblastoma patients with an irradiation history had shorter survival than those without irradiation history for retinoblastoma. High-dose chemotherapy should be considered as a potential treatment option for trilateral retinoblastomas.

A clinical update and radiologic review of pediatric orbital and ocular tumors

While pediatric orbital tumors are most often managed in tertiary care centers, clinicians should be aware of the signs of intraocular and orbital neoplasms. In the pediatric population, a delay in diagnosis of orbital and intraocular lesions, even if benign, can lead to vision loss and deformity. Intraocular lesions reviewed are retinoblastoma, medulloepithelioma, and retinal astrocytic hamartoma. Orbital neoplasms reviewed are rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma metastases, optic pathway glioma, plexiform neurofibroma, leukemia, lymphoprolipherative disease, orbital inflammatory syndrome, dermoid and epidermoid inclusion cysts, and Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Vascular lesions reviewed are infantile hemangioma and venous lymphatic malformation. In conjunction with clinical examination, high-resolution ophthalmic imaging and radiologic imaging play an important role in making a diagnosis and differentiating between benign and likely malignant processes. The radiologic imaging characteristics of these lesions will be discussed to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment. The current treatment modalities and management of tumors will also be reviewed.

Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is an aggressive eye cancer of infancy and childhood. Survival and the chance of saving vision depend on severity of disease at presentation. Retinoblastoma was the first tumour to draw attention to the genetic aetiology of cancer. Despite good understanding of its aetiology, mortality from retinoblastoma is about 70% in countries of low and middle income, where most affected children live. Poor public and medical awareness, and an absence of rigorous clinical trials to assess innovative treatments impede progress. Worldwide, most of the estimated 9000 newly diagnosed patients every year will die. However, global digital communications present opportunities to optimise standards of care for children and families affected by this rare and often devastating cancer. Parents are now leading the effort for widespread awareness of the danger of leucocoria. Genome-level technologies could make genetic testing a reality for every family affected by retinoblastoma. Best-practice guidelines, online sharing of pathological images, point-of-care data entry, multidisciplinary research, and clinical trials can reduce mortality. Most importantly, active participation of survivors and families will ensure that the whole wellbeing of the child is prioritised in any treatment plan.

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue for stage 4B retinoblastoma

BACKGROUND

Stage 4b retinoblastoma (central nervous system metastatic disease) has been lethal in virtually all cases reported. Here we describe a series of eight patients treated with intensive chemotherapy, defined as the intention to include high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue.

PROCEDURE

Induction chemotherapy included cyclophosphamide and/or carboplatin with a topoisomerase inhibitor. High-dose chemotherapy regimens were carboplatin and thiotepa with or without etoposide (n = 3) or carboplatin, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide (n = 2).

RESULTS

Seven patients had leptomeningeal disease and one patient had only direct extension to the CNS via the optic nerve. Three patients had stage 4b disease at the time of original diagnosis of the intra-ocular retinoblastoma; five had later onset at a median of 12 months (range 3-69 months). One patient died of toxicity (septicemia and multi-organ system failure) during induction and two had disease progression prior to high-dose chemotherapy. Five patients received high-dose chemotherapy at a median of 6 months (range 4-6) post-diagnosis of stage 4b disease. Two patients survive event-free at 40 and 101 months; one was irradiated following recovery from the high-dose chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Intensive multimodality therapy may be beneficial for some patients with stage 4b retinoblastoma. Longer follow-up will determine whether it has been curative.

Pinealoblastoma with prominent retinoblastic differentiation: an unusual case in an adult

We present an extremely rare case of pinealoblastoma with retinoblastic differentiation in a 32-year-old woman who presented with a history of intermittent headache of 2 years duration and diminution of vision for 2 months which eventually lead to total loss of vision. The fundus examination showed bilateral secondary optic atrophy. She did not have any previous history of retinoblastoma. The family history was non-contributory. Paraffin section of the tumor showed a primitive neuroectodermal tumor with numerous Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes and the tumor cells were strongly positive for synaptophysin and negative for GFAP, S-100 protein and epithelial membrane antigen. This is the first case in the literature of a sporadic case of pinealoblastoma with prominent retinoblastic differentiation as evidenced histomorphologically by the presence of numerous Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes in an adult female.