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Treatment of Progressive or Recurrent Retinoblastoma
Source: Retinoblastoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: April 3, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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The prognosis for a patient with progressive or recurrent retinoblastoma depends on the site and extent of the progression or recurrence and previous treatment received.
The introduction of intravenous chemotherapy for the treatment of retinoblastoma in the early 1990s revolutionized retinoblastoma management. In a retrospective review of 869 eyes in 551 patients with retinoblastoma who were treated with chemoreduction, 64% of the eyes experienced a recurrence and 94% of the recurrences or new tumors were detected within the first 3 years of treatment. Risk factors for recurrence included the following:[1][Level of evidence C1]
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Younger patient age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.02 per 1 month decrease; P = .02).
More advanced International Classification of Retinoblastoma group (OR, 1.24 per 1 more advanced group; P = .01).
Closer tumor distance to the optic disc (OR, 1.11 per 1 mm decrease; P = .03).
Presentation with subretinal seeds (OR, 1.66; P = .02).
Presence of germline pathogenic variants, which contributed to the risk of new tumor formation.
Intraocular and extraocular recurrences have very different prognoses and are treated in different ways.
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