TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Treatment of Unilateral, Bilateral, and Cavitary Retinoblastoma
Source: Retinoblastoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: October 7, 2021 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
Source links and citations
If it is likely that the eye can be saved, treatment may include the following:
Systemic chemotherapy or ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy, with or without intravitreal chemotherapy, to shrink the tumor. This may be followed by one or more of the following:
Source links and citations
Systemic chemotherapy or ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy, with or without intravitreal chemotherapy, to shrink the tumor. This may be followed by one or more of the following:
Cryotherapy.
Source links and citations
Systemic chemotherapy or ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy, with or without intravitreal chemotherapy, to shrink the tumor. This may be followed by one or more of the following:
Thermotherapy.
Source links and citations
Systemic chemotherapy or ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy, with or without intravitreal chemotherapy, to shrink the tumor. This may be followed by one or more of the following:
Plaque radiotherapy.
Source links and citations
External-beam radiation therapy for bilateral intraocular retinoblastoma that does not respond to other treatments.
Source links and citations
If the tumor is large and it is not likely that the eye can be saved, treatment may include the following:
Surgery (enucleation). After surgery, systemic chemotherapy may be given to lower the risk that the cancer will spread to other parts of the body.
Source links and citations
When retinoblastoma is in both eyes, the treatment for each eye may be different, depending on the size of the tumor and whether it is likely that the eye can be saved. The dose of systemic chemotherapy is usually based on the eye that has more cancer.
Source links and citations
Patients with cavitary retinoblastoma respond well to treatment and have favorable long-term outcomes, similar to patients with noncavitary retinoblastoma.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice