The major retinal tumor that requires radiotherapy (RT) is retinoblastoma (RB); to a lesser degree, RT is used for some cases of retinal capillary hemangioma and lymphoma of the retina. Although there are concerns about the risk of RT-induced second malignancy in patients who carry a germline mutation in the RB1 gene, RT remains a very important part of our approach to intra-ocular and extra-ocular RB. Technical innovations in RT allow more precise targeting of retinal tumors and decreased exposure of adjacent normal tissue, an advance that is particularly significant for patients with hereditary RB who are at risk of additional malignancies.
Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.