Retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor recurrence in the papillary or macular region is a threat to life and visual prognosis respectively, making early detection indispensable. This study demonstrates the value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the early detection of subclinical tumor recurrence.
Since June 2012, hand-held SD-OCT (spectral domain Optical Coherence Tomography) of retro-equatorial foci, the optic head nerve and macula, is systematically performed under anesthesia in children treated and followed for Rb.
Between June 2012 and January 2017, 16 subclinical recurrent tumors in 14 children were detected only by OCT in flat pigmented scars (n = 9), in type 2 regression (n = 3), on the optic nerve head (n = 3), and as secondary retinal seeding (n = 1).
OCT has become invaluable in the modern management of Rb. It allows not only early detection of a lesion before any tumor extension towards the macula or optic nerve head, but also the monitoring of the therapeutic response.