Computed Tomography of Retinoblastoma

Abstract

Retinoblastoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor in children. The clinical features are leucocoria and/or strabismus. The ophthalmic diagnosis is straight forward in clear eye media with a white gray mass in the fundus. With opaque ocular media, other diagnostic procedures such as CT and ultrasonography are important. In the present study the results of CT examinations of 23 patients with histologically proven retinoblastomas are presented. The mean age of the patients was two years. The characteristic CT finding is a partly calcified intravitreous mass lesion mostly confined within the eyeball. Two cases showed retrobulbar extension and two intracranial tumor extension. No metastasis was found in the brain, liver, spleen, long bones, chest or skull. The radiologic screening procedures for retinoblastoma metastasis are discussed. In patients suspected to have a retinoblastoma, it is recommended to perform CT of the orbits and brain in order to detect the tumor and its possible retrobulbar and intracranial extension.

Phthisis Bulbi and Leptomeningeal Metastasis in a Case of Trilateral Retinoblastoma

“…Retinoblastoma is seen on CT as an intraocular mass, which is calcified in about 95% of cases, located posterior to the lens and shows mild or moderate enhancement. 12 In advanced cases the tumor may fill the entire globe. The diagnosis of RB is highly likely when intraocular calcifications are present in a child less than 3 years of age.…”

Phthisis Bulbi and Leptomeningeal Metastasis in a Case of Trilateral Retinoblastoma

“…Retinoblastoma is seen on CT as an intraocular mass, which is calcified in about 95% of cases, located posterior to the lens and shows mild or moderate enhancement. 12 In advanced cases the tumor may fill the entire globe. The diagnosis of RB is highly likely when intraocular calcifications are present in a child less than 3 years of age.…”

Retinoblastoma—MR appearance using a surface coil in comparison with histopathological results

“…In the present study calcifications to a various degree were found in 81% of the retinoblastomas. Publications using CT for retinoblastoma imaging reported calcifications in 82% to 96% of the affected eyes [5,12,13].…”

Is CT Still Useful in the Study Protocol of Retinoblastoma?

“…3,4 The detection of intraocular calcium deposition is a key element to differentiate retinoblastoma from simulating lesions. Histology reports show that retinoblastomas calcify in Յ95% of cases 5 ; CT has a designated sensitivity in detecting calcifications in retinoblastoma of 81%-96%, [6][7][8][9][10] whereas the sensitivity of sonography has been reported to be Յ92.5% of cases. 4 In children younger than 3 years of age, an intrabulbar calcified mass is most likely a retinoblastoma.…”

“…11,12 However, in children older than 3 years of age, other intraocular lesions, such as retinopathy of prematurity, toxocariasis, Coats' disease, retinal astrocytoma, and optic nerve drusen may appear as a calcified masses. 3,10 Retinoblastoma may very rarely occur in older patients, but we have had a new diagnosis in a child older than 15 years of age (personal observation). 13 CT or MR imaging or both are usually required to detect optic nerve, choroid, and scleral infiltration stages; disease spread beyond the eye; or intracranial disease.…”

Phthisis Bulbi and Leptomeningeal Metastasis in a Case of Trilateral Retinoblastoma

“…Retinoblastoma is seen on CT as an intraocular mass, which is calcified in about 95% of cases, located posterior to the lens and shows mild or moderate enhancement. 12 In advanced cases the tumor may fill the entire globe. The diagnosis of RB is highly likely when intraocular calcifications are present in a child less than 3 years of age.…”

Retinoblastoma—MR appearance using a surface coil in comparison with histopathological results

“…In the present study calcifications to a various degree were found in 81% of the retinoblastomas. Publications using CT for retinoblastoma imaging reported calcifications in 82% to 96% of the affected eyes [5,12,13].…”

Is CT Still Useful in the Study Protocol of Retinoblastoma?

“…3,4 The detection of intraocular calcium deposition is a key element to differentiate retinoblastoma from simulating lesions. Histology reports show that retinoblastomas calcify in Յ95% of cases 5 ; CT has a designated sensitivity in detecting calcifications in retinoblastoma of 81%-96%, [6][7][8][9][10] whereas the sensitivity of sonography has been reported to be Յ92.5% of cases. 4 In children younger than 3 years of age, an intrabulbar calcified mass is most likely a retinoblastoma.…”

“…11,12 However, in children older than 3 years of age, other intraocular lesions, such as retinopathy of prematurity, toxocariasis, Coats' disease, retinal astrocytoma, and optic nerve drusen may appear as a calcified masses. 3,10 Retinoblastoma may very rarely occur in older patients, but we have had a new diagnosis in a child older than 15 years of age (personal observation). 13 CT or MR imaging or both are usually required to detect optic nerve, choroid, and scleral infiltration stages; disease spread beyond the eye; or intracranial disease.…”

Phthisis Bulbi and Leptomeningeal Metastasis in a Case of Trilateral Retinoblastoma

“…Retinoblastoma is seen on CT as an intraocular mass, which is calcified in about 95% of cases, located posterior to the lens and shows mild or moderate enhancement. 12 In advanced cases the tumor may fill the entire globe. The diagnosis of RB is highly likely when intraocular calcifications are present in a child less than 3 years of age.…”

Retinoblastoma—MR appearance using a surface coil in comparison with histopathological results

“…In the present study calcifications to a various degree were found in 81% of the retinoblastomas. Publications using CT for retinoblastoma imaging reported calcifications in 82% to 96% of the affected eyes [5,12,13].…”

Is CT Still Useful in the Study Protocol of Retinoblastoma?

“…3,4 The detection of intraocular calcium deposition is a key element to differentiate retinoblastoma from simulating lesions. Histology reports show that retinoblastomas calcify in Յ95% of cases 5 ; CT has a designated sensitivity in detecting calcifications in retinoblastoma of 81%-96%, [6][7][8][9][10] whereas the sensitivity of sonography has been reported to be Յ92.5% of cases. 4 In children younger than 3 years of age, an intrabulbar calcified mass is most likely a retinoblastoma.…”

“…11,12 However, in children older than 3 years of age, other intraocular lesions, such as retinopathy of prematurity, toxocariasis, Coats' disease, retinal astrocytoma, and optic nerve drusen may appear as a calcified masses. 3,10 Retinoblastoma may very rarely occur in older patients, but we have had a new diagnosis in a child older than 15 years of age (personal observation). 13 CT or MR imaging or both are usually required to detect optic nerve, choroid, and scleral infiltration stages; disease spread beyond the eye; or intracranial disease.…”