Be wary of children with retinal cancer

The Central Eye Hospital doctor said that every year, the hospital receives dozens of patients with retinal cancer. Most patients come to treatment when the disease has advanced.

(Photo: Nhandan) On October 30, the Central Eye Hospital received a newborn patient 1 month 23 days old. This premature child, weighing only 1,500 grams, was found to have retinal cancer in both eyes during the examination according to the premature newborn screening program (ROP) coordinated between the Central Children's Hospital and the Central Eye Hospital.

Notably, the father of a 24-year-old patient, from Phu Xuyen district, Ha Tay province, also had retinal cancer at two years old and had to give up one eye.

According to Master Le Thuy Quynh, deputy head of the Central Eye Department of Children's Hospital, the retinal cancer is a type of eye malignant neoplasm, mainly found in children under 5 years old (95%). . The disease may be present in one or both eyes. Retinal cancer is innate and genetic.

Clinical manifestations of the disease vary depending on the stage of the disease at the time of detection (depending on the size of the tumor and the complications caused by the eye).

Infected children often have white pupils, reduced or lost vision and squint. In addition, there may be other signs such as dilated pupils and reflexes, iridescent iris, blood clots or pus in the room .

More severe may have pseudo-inflammatory symptoms such as uveitis, endophthalmitis or inflammation of the eye socket. Later, the affected eye shows signs of increased glaucoma which causes pain in the child.

U can export to the front as a protruding eyeball and deformed. The tumor can also progress to the back of the eyeball as it invades the optic nerve, spreads to the eye socket and spreads to the intracranial or penetrates the skull bone, into the spinal cord and lymph nodes. Tumor cells can enter the bloodstream and follow them into organs.

Diagnosis and treatment are difficult

Children under 6 years old and have a medical examination card are free to treat retinal cancer.

Genetic diseases need to examine the whole family for early detection and timely treatment.

According to Master Quynh, when looking at the child's eyes, there is a light of white like cat's eyes, if accompanied by a blind eye, poor vision, the child should be examined immediately at an ophthalmic medical facility.' Because it may be a sign of a child with retinal cancer ' - Master Quynh said.

Referring to the prevention of diseases, Master Quynh said that no factors directly related to the living environment have been found.Statistics show that all cases are genetic and genetic.

' This is an innate, family and genetic disease. Therefore, if a person has retinal cancer from a young age, the risk of the child being infected is 50%. If both eyes are affected, there is 98% chance of the next generation carrying the disease '- Master Quynh affirmed.

The ophthalmologist recommends: ' Family visits are necessary, counseling for families and patients is important '.

Early detection, chemical treatment, radiotherapy, and freezing cold, laser photolysis, protect eyes for children.

Prophylaxis for early detection of retinal cancer in Vietnam has not been given adequate attention.' Too much money poured into treatment while pouring not much for preventive medicine ', said Professor Pham Huy Dung, Director of the Institute of Health - Environment.

In advanced countries, people use chemotherapy to destroy tumors, and preserve eyeballs. Recently added laser or cold treatment. In addition to radiotherapy, today the world is rarely used because it leaves heavy consequences such as cataract.

Related to radiotherapy, radiographs are used to attach to the sclera of the tumor area to localize radiation, to avoid external radiation therapy.

In the worst case, the eyeball must be removed when the tumor develops to the last stage, when the tumor causes a secondary glaucoma, u has spread the cancer cells in the endothelium, u have no other treatment, or The patient is not monitored.

Recent advanced countries are less likely to remove the eyeball due to early diagnosis.

However, to diagnose retinal cancer, it is necessary to dilate the pupil for ophthalmoscopy and full eye examination. These procedures are often difficult to perform at the grassroots level. Therefore, children suffering from diseases in localities are easily lost. Often, specialized ophthalmology only from the provincial level or higher is eligible for disease detection.

Master Quynh said that it is possible to diagnose subclinical thanks to an ultrasound of the eyeball, X-rays, computed tomography and cranial tomography.

Tumors at the base of the eyes are usually grayish-white, protruding into the vitreous chambers, tumors vary in size, varying in size, and have zigzag vessels nourishing the tumor.

If the tumor is large, it can be pushed forward, close behind the glass body. In the case of patients who are late when the cornea is cloudy or other signs are obscured, the tumor is often not seen. At this time, diagnosis must be based on laboratory testing.

Master Quynh identifies and treats very complicated retinal cancer, requiring both knowledge and experience and equipment. Each treatment has its own indications depending on the stage, number, size and location of the tumor.

With the current situation in Vietnam and due to the late detection, almost all of the children with retinal cancer to treat at the Central Eye Hospital have the result of eye removal to preserve life. For early detection (usually very rare) when the tumor is less than 3 mm, the Central Eye Hospital has applied advanced laser treatment for 2 years.

The child will be examined by a doctor, ophthalmoscopy, ultrasound, CT scanner. Depending on the stage, laser treatment, freezing, chemotherapy, or eye removal may be available.