The management of retinoblastoma is complex. With increasing treatment modalities and increasing experience with each treatment modality, the globe salvage rates have drastically improved with time. Aqueous seeding in an eye with retinoblastoma is classified as group E based on International Classification of Intraocular Retinoblastoma, and most group E eyes were enucleated a decade earlier. Newer modalities of treatment have improved the globe salvage rates in group E eyes including those with aqueous seeding. Various globe salvage treatment modalities attempted for the management of aqueous seeds include external beam radiotherapy, plaque radiotherapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy, periocular chemotherapy, intravitreal chemotherapy and intracameral chemotherapy. Of all treatment modalities, intracameral chemotherapy holds promise for the management of aqueous seeds in selected patients, but it should be done with the utmost care by a trained ocular oncologist. Enucleation is still the preferred modality of treatment for eyes with advanced retinoblastoma and anterior segment invasion. This review focuses on the current evidence on aqueous seeding, highlighting the pathogenesis, classification, clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ceo.13964

Importance

Retinoblastoma is a life‐ and sight‐threatening malignancy.

Background

To assess the relationship between tumour perfusion and intra‐arterial chemotherapy (IAC) requirements to achieve retinoblastoma control.

Design

Retrospective case series at the Ocular Oncology Service of Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

Participants

Fifty‐nine eyes of 55 patients.

Methods

Review of medical and fluorescein angiography (FA) records for retinoblastoma treated with primary or secondary IAC from 2012 to 2017. Vascular supply of the main tumour was evaluated in the pre‐treatment FA.

Main Outcome Measures

Tumour fluorescence was classified as partial <67% or complete tumour perfusion >67%. Partially vs completely perfused tumours were compared for IAC cycle requirements.

Results

There were 59 eyes of 55 patients with pre‐treatment FA managed with IAC. Partially perfused tumours (n = 20, 34%) required fewer IAC infusions than completely perfused tumours (n = 39, 66%) (2.5 vs 3.7 infusions, P = .02), even after adjustment for confounding factors (tumour diameter, thickness and drug scheme, adjusted P = .04). Tumour perfusion correlated with number of IAC cycles required for tumour control (r = 0.46, P < .001). For primary IAC (n = 18, 31%), tumour perfusion was not associated with number of IAC cycles (P = .63). For secondary IAC (n = 41, 69%), partially perfused tumours (n = 15, 37%) required fewer IAC infusions than completely perfused tumours (n = 26, 63%) (2.1 vs 3.7 infusions, P < .01).

Conclusions and Relevance

FA demonstrating partial retinoblastoma tumour perfusion is associated with fewer IAC cycle requirements for secondary but not primary IAC. FA might be useful in judging anticipated treatment cycles of retinoblastoma managed with primary or secondary IAC.