Retinoblastoma Imaging

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Practice Essentials

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant tumor of the developing retina that occurs in children, usually before age 5 years, and may be unilateral or bilateral. It is the most common primary ocular malignancy of childhood. About 60% of patients have unilateral RB, with a mean age at diagnosis of 24 months, and about 40% have bilateral RB, with a mean age at diagnosis of 15 months. Worldwide, the incidence of retinoblastoma is 1 in 16,000 live births.[1, 2, 3]

(See the image below.)



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Retinoblastoma, glaucomatous stage. History: AB, 2-year-old female from Marikina City, Philippines, with chief complaint of proptosis, right eye. The ....

Mutations in the RB gene (long arm of chromosome 13q14) predispose individuals to the disease, as well as to an increased risk of developing pineal tumors, extracranial sarcomas, and melanoma.[4] When a patient with RB develops a pineal tumor, the term trilateral RB (TRB) is used.[5, 6, 7]

RB may occur sporadically (60%), or it may be inherited (40%). Historically, the RB trait seemed to be transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern. Occasionally, however, the trait skips a generation in families, indicating genetic carriers.

Preferred examination

The volume of the intraocular tumor is estimated by means of orbital A and B scanning and/or a computed tomography (CT) scanning. On rare occasions, RB is discovered during a well-baby examination. Most often, a parent first detects the symptoms of RB. Cranial and orbital CT provides a sensitive method for diagnosis and detection of intraocular calcification and shows the intraocular extent of the tumor even if calcification is absent.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is based on differential near‐infrared light reflection, has been shown to improve the clinical evaluation of retinoblastoma compared with ultrasound or MRI. Handheld intraoperative OCT has become especially popular for pediatric retinoblastoma assessment.[8, 9, 10, 11]

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Patient with retinoblastoma, glaucomatous stage. Intracranial extension on CT scan.

MRI may be beneficial in estimating the degree of differentiation of retinoblastomas, but MRI is not as specific as CT because the former lacks sensitivity in detecting calcium. The tumors usually have a low intensity on T1-weighted images and are usually difficult to distinguish from surrounding vitreous. On T2-weighted images, retinoblastoma tumors demonstrate very low intensity compared to vitreous, and calcification is more pronounced on T2 sequences.[2, 12, 13]

De Jong et al concluded that MRI images showed higher diagnostic accuracy than CT for detecting prelaminar optic nerve and choroidal invasion, but the differences were not statistically significant.[14]

Ultrasonography can distinguish retinoblastomas from nonneoplastic conditions and is useful in detecting calcifications.

Retinal fluorescein angiography helps confirm the diagnosis of RB but is not usually performed for this disease because of the availability of noninvasive, cross-sectional imaging methods.[15] ​ False-positive results can occur in cases involving other, similar pathologies.

Computed Tomography

On CT scans, RB is seen as a mass that is predominantly located in the posterior ocular pole. The mass may have distinct contours and an inhomogeneous structure, and it may contain calcifications in 70.5% of cases.

CT scanning has high sensitivity in the detection of intraocular tumors, and it has a specificity of 91% for RB. This modality has allowed the staging of intraocular tumors, the detection of extrabulbar growth, and the determination of further treatment approaches. CT scanning can be used to follow up tumors to determine the effect of treatment and to establish a timely diagnosis of malignant tumor relapses.

An epibulbar osseous choristoma can simulate extraocular extension of RB in an eye with an intraocular malignancy; however, the intraocular contents display features typical of RB without extraocular extension.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is based on differential near‐infrared light reflection, has been shown to improve the clinical evaluation of retinoblastoma compared with ultrasound or MRI. Handheld intraoperative OCT has become especially popular for pediatric retinoblastoma assessment.[8, 9, 10, 11]

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not as specific for diagnosing RB as CT scanning because of MRI's insensitivity for detecting calcium. When calcium is detected, it may be seen as an area of low signal intensity on all pulse sequences.[2]  RB is usually visualized as a mass that is slightly hyperintense relative to the vitreous on T1-weighted images and that is hypointense on T2-weighted images. T1 hyperintensity may be due to the presence of melanin. Mild to marked enhancement is seen on gadolinium–enhanced T1-weighted images.

One study compared diagnostic gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MRI image quality without and with fat saturation. Thirty-six children (mean age, 19.0 ± 16.8 [SD] months) were included. Image quality and anatomic detail depiction were found to be significantly better without fat saturation, but tumor enhancement was rated higher with fat saturation. Detection of choroidal invasion was improved without fat saturation, but fat saturation improved detection of (post-)laminar optic nerve infiltration. According to the authors, combining both sequences was the best approach in assessing tumor extension (sensitivity and specificity for [post-]laminar optic nerve infiltration were 75% and 100%, respectively; sensitivity and specificity for choroidal invasion were 87.5% and 85.7%, respectively).[12]

Gadolinium-based contrast agents have been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD). For more information, see the topic Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis.

Like CT scanning, MRI has a role in the detection of extraocular tumor spread, especially extension into the optic canal.[14, 13]  It can also depict intracranial tumors associated with TRB.

Retinal detachment is well depicted on MRI.

Ultrasonography

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography can be used to perform retinal and tumor mapping, which is useful in planning localized or plaque radiation. Subsequently, 3D ultrasonography can also help confirm the proper positioning of such plaques. In addition, calcification and retinal detachment can be diagnosed with this modality; however, 3D ultrasonography is not useful for depicting the extraocular spread of tumors. General anesthesia must be a part of this examination, because the eye should be still during the scan.[16, 17]

Color Doppler imaging reveals slightly vascularized tumor areas and can depict blood flow inside the tumor.[18]

Author

Antonio Pascotto, MD, Consulting Ophthalmologist, Pascotto, Istituto per la Salute degli Occhi, Clinica Mediterranea, Italy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jugesh Cheema, MD, Radiologist, Evansville Radiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sergio Claudio Saccà, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Department of Neurological and Visual Sciences, Ospedale San Martino, Italy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editors

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

C Douglas Phillips, MD, FACR, Director of Head and Neck Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital; Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Eugene C Lin, MD, Attending Radiologist, Teaching Coordinator for Cardiac Imaging, Radiology Residency Program, Virginia Mason Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Charles M Glasier, MD, Professor, Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Chief, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Vice-Chief, Pediatric Radiology, Arkansas Children's Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Angelo Bartolomeo de Iuri, MD, Radiologist Specialist, Studio Radiologico Bartolomeo De Iuri, Napoli, Italy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Roberto Bianco, MD Professor of Digestive Surgery and Endoscopy, Milan University, Italy; Complex Structure Director, Section of Radiodiagnostic and Radiotherapeutics, L Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Dimaras H, Corson TW. Retinoblastoma, the visible CNS tumor: A review. J Neurosci Res. 2019 Jan. 97 (1):29-44. [View Abstract]
  2. McCaffery S, Simon EM, Fischbein NJ, et al. Three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of ocular and orbital malignancies. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Jun. 120(6):747-54.
  3. Honavar SG, Manjandavida FP, Reddy VAP. Orbital retinoblastoma: An update. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2017 Jun. 65 (6):435-442. [View Abstract]
  4. Ortiz MV, Dunkel IJ. Retinoblastoma. J Child Neurol. 2016 Feb. 31 (2):227-36. [View Abstract]
  5. Shields CL. Forget-me-nots in the care of children with retinoblastoma. Semin Ophthalmol. 2008 Sep-Oct. 23(5):324-34. [View Abstract]
  6. Mastrangelo D, De Francesco S, Di Leonardo A, Lentini L, Hadjistilianou T. The retinoblastoma paradigm revisited. Med Sci Monit. 2008 Dec. 14(12):RA231-40. [View Abstract]
  7. Schefler AC, Abramson DH. Retinoblastoma: what is new in 2007-2008. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2008 Nov. 19(6):526-34. [View Abstract]
  8. Welch RJ, Rao R, Gordon PS, Say EAT, Shields CL. Optical Coherence Tomography of Small Retinoblastoma. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2018 Sep-Oct. 7 (5):301-306. [View Abstract]
  9. Malik K, Welch RJ, Shields CL. HAND-HELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY MONITORING OF CHEMORESISTANT RETINOBLASTOMA. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2018 Feb 13. [View Abstract]
  10. Soliman SE, VandenHoven C, MacKeen LD, Héon E, Gallie BL. Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Decisions in Retinoblastoma Management. Ophthalmology. 2017 Jun. 124 (6):859-872. [View Abstract]
  11. Rootman DB, Gonzalez E, Mallipatna A, Vandenhoven C, Hampton L, Dimaras H, et al. Hand-held high-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography in retinoblastoma: clinical and morphologic considerations. Br J Ophthalmol. 2013 Jan. 97 (1):59-65. [View Abstract]
  12. Sirin S, Schlamann M, Metz KA, Bornfeld N, Schweiger B, Holdt M, et al. Diagnostic image quality of gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MRI with and without fat saturation in children with retinoblastoma. Pediatr Radiol. 2013 Jun. 43(6):716-24. [View Abstract]
  13. Cui Y, Luo R, Wang R, Liu H, Zhang C, Zhang Z, et al. Correlation between conventional MR imaging combined with diffusion-weighted imaging and histopathologic findings in eyes primarily enucleated for advanced retinoblastoma: a retrospective study. Eur Radiol. 2018 Feb. 28 (2):620-629. [View Abstract]
  14. de Jong MC, de Graaf P, Noij DP, Göricke S, Maeder P, Galluzzi P, et al. Diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography for advanced retinoblastoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2014 May. 121(5):1109-18. [View Abstract]
  15. Kim JW, Ngai LK, Sadda S, Murakami Y, Lee DK, Murphree AL. Retcam fluorescein angiography findings in eyes with advanced retinoblastoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014 Jul 22. [View Abstract]
  16. Finger PT, Romero JM, Rosen RB, et al. Three-dimensional ultrasonography of choroidal melanoma: localization of radioactive eye plaques. Arch Ophthalmol. 1998 Mar. 116(3):305-12. [View Abstract]
  17. Romero JM, Finger PT, Iezzi R, et al. Three-dimensional ultrasonography of choroidal melanoma: extrascleral extension. Am J Ophthalmol. 1998 Dec. 126(6):842-4.
  18. Xue K, Liu A, Hui R, Zhang J, Qian J. Retrobulbar ocular blood flow changes measured by colour Doppler imaging after intra-arterial chemotherapy in retinoblastoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 2017 Oct. 101 (10):1419-1422. [View Abstract]

Retinoblastoma, glaucomatous stage. History: AB, 2-year-old female from Marikina City, Philippines, with chief complaint of proptosis, right eye. The patient is an adopted child. Prior to admission (PTA), with child aged 6 months (time of adoption), surrogate mother noted an opacity in the right eye. No medical consultation. One year PTA, physician consultation; told AB had an "eye mass" and needed to see an ophthalmologist. No compliance. One month PTA, proptosis was noted in the right eye. Examination: Visual acuity (VA) of right eye is no light perception; VA of left eye is central, steady, and maintained fixation. Sensorium: Awake but irritable. Diagnostics: Intracranial extension on CT scan. Skeletal survey: E/N. Management: The patient underwent exenteration (right side).

Patient with retinoblastoma, glaucomatous stage. Intracranial extension on CT scan.

Retinoblastoma, glaucomatous stage. History: AB, 2-year-old female from Marikina City, Philippines, with chief complaint of proptosis, right eye. The patient is an adopted child. Prior to admission (PTA), with child aged 6 months (time of adoption), surrogate mother noted an opacity in the right eye. No medical consultation. One year PTA, physician consultation; told AB had an "eye mass" and needed to see an ophthalmologist. No compliance. One month PTA, proptosis was noted in the right eye. Examination: Visual acuity (VA) of right eye is no light perception; VA of left eye is central, steady, and maintained fixation. Sensorium: Awake but irritable. Diagnostics: Intracranial extension on CT scan. Skeletal survey: E/N. Management: The patient underwent exenteration (right side).

Patient with retinoblastoma, glaucomatous stage. Intracranial extension on CT scan.