Phthisis Bulbi and Buphthalmos as Presenting Signs of Retinoblastoma: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

Prosthetic guidelines for ocular rehabilitation in patients with phthisis bulbi: a treatment-based classification system

Prosthetic rehabilitation of phthisis bulbi defects is the only treatment option for cosmetic rehabilitation of patients with such defects. Currently, there is no treatment-based classification for prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with phthisis bulbi. Phthisical ocular defects and/or prosthetic rehabilitation were evaluated in an attempt to establish prosthetic guidelines that could be organized into a classification system. Fifty patients who received rehabilitation for phthisis bulbi were reviewed. Phthisis bulbi defects were divided into 4 classes. All the patients had rehabilitation, depending upon the class to which they were assigned. The aim of this treatment-oriented classification system was to organize and define the complex nature of the restorative decision-making process for patients with phthisis bulbi.

Phthisis bulbi in retinoblastoma

BACKGROUND

Phthisis bulbi is a relatively uncommon and atypical clinical presentation of retinoblastoma.

DESIGN

Retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighteen consecutive retinoblastoma patients with primary phthisis bulbi.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of clinical, imaging and histopathological features of all retinoblastoma patients with primary phthisis bulbi, treated at our centre between January 2005 and December 2009.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Clinical and histopathology features.

RESULTS

Eighteen (3.5%) retinoblastoma patients developed primary phthisis bulbi. The median age of presentation was 1.5 years. The median duration of symptoms before presentation was 6 months. In total, 15 out of 18 (83%) cases had bilateral disease. Among these, 80% (12/15) had advanced intraocular disease in the fellow eye. Most common first symptom was white reflex. History of orbital inflammation was present in 12/18 cases. Computed tomographic scan of orbit showed intraocular mass with calcific densities in 16 eyes. In two cases, hyperdense mass was seen without any calcification. On histopathology, residual viable tumour cells with characteristics of poorly differentiated retinoblastoma were found in 67% (12/18) eyes. High-risk factors were present in six cases with microscopic residual disease in three cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest case series of retinoblastoma patients with primary phthisis bulbi. Phthisis bulbi in retinoblastoma may be associated with bilateral disease in most cases and advanced intraocular disease in the fellow eye in a significant number of cases. Regression is incomplete in majority of these cases; therefore, enucleation must definitely be done in all cases of retinoblastoma presenting with phthisis bulbi.

Some clinical findings at presentation can predict high-risk pathology features in unilateral retinoblastoma

AIMS

To identify clinical features at presentation to help in detecting patients with retinoblastoma and pathology risk factors (PRFs) preoperatively, and therefore selecting a high-risk population that could benefit from preoperative treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively filled form of 182 consecutive patients with unilateral retinoblastoma treated with initial enucleation from 1988 to 2006. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Major choroidal invasion and postlaminar optic nerve and scleral extension were considered PRFs. Within this subgroup, a higher-risk cohort (microscopical residual disease caused by trans-scleral invasion or invasion to the resection margin of the optic nerve) was analyzed separately.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-four patients had completely resected and 18 had microscopical residual disease. Seventy three had at least 1 PRF (massive invasion to the choroid in 25, to the postlaminar optic nerve in 41, intrascleral in 10, to the resection margin of the optic nerve in 12, and trans-scleral in 6). Seventy-one patients had glaucoma and 19 had buphthalmia. Intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and buphthalmia correlated significantly with the occurrence of both PRF and microscopical residual disease in multivariate analysis. Buphthalmia was the most specific factor but the sensitivity was lower. Glaucoma and buphthalmia had a high negative predictive value.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with glaucoma and/or buphthalmia have a significantly higher risk for the occurrence of PRF, including those resulting in microscopically residual disease.