RETINOBLASTOMA
Retinoblastoma is “an embryonal tumor of developing photoreceptors” (Williams), and the majority of cases present in young children age five or younger. It is usually present at birth. Retinoblastoma can also be genetic in some cases. Only 150-350 cases present worldwide each year. It is one of the rarest forms of cancer.
I chose to research this cancer because of its rarity. Originally, I wanted to research AML (acute myeloid leukemia), and quickly realized I craved to research something that was less common. I found retinoblastoma on MeSH, the Medical Subject Headings, a National Library of Medicine project thesaurus, and quickly grew a liking to its difficulty to find. As opposed to researching AML, where, when I found something, I would add it to an already large pile of data, with retinoblastoma, I would smile, and add it to a much smaller pile of …show more content…
Retinoblastoma is highly sensitive to radiation. External beam radiotherapy is used for cancers that are in both eyes, or extend in to the bones of the eye, or when an eye contains a tumor larger than 16mm. It is also used when the tumor is near the fovea, multiple tumors are present, or it can be used to treat the eye socket after the eye has been removed. Plaque radiotherapy is for cancers that are in one eye, or concentrated, which creates less collateral damage usually seen in external beam radiotherapy. Protocol for both of the radiation therapies is 3,500 to 4,000 centigrays (cGy) of radiation. A Gray is defined by the International System of Units (SI) by the absorption of one joule of radiation energy by one kilogram of matter. For that reason, the protocol allows for 35-40 Grays of radiation. (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of
Retinoblastoma is “an embryonal tumor of developing photoreceptors” (Williams), and the majority of cases present in young children age five or younger. It is usually present at birth. Retinoblastoma can also be genetic in some cases. Only 150-350 cases present worldwide each year. It is one of the rarest forms of cancer.
I chose to research this cancer because of its rarity. Originally, I wanted to research AML (acute myeloid leukemia), and quickly realized I craved to research something that was less common. I found retinoblastoma on MeSH, the Medical Subject Headings, a National Library of Medicine project thesaurus, and quickly grew a liking to its difficulty to find. As opposed to researching AML, where, when I found something, I would add it to an already large pile of data, with retinoblastoma, I would smile, and add it to a much smaller pile of …show more content…
Retinoblastoma is highly sensitive to radiation. External beam radiotherapy is used for cancers that are in both eyes, or extend in to the bones of the eye, or when an eye contains a tumor larger than 16mm. It is also used when the tumor is near the fovea, multiple tumors are present, or it can be used to treat the eye socket after the eye has been removed. Plaque radiotherapy is for cancers that are in one eye, or concentrated, which creates less collateral damage usually seen in external beam radiotherapy. Protocol for both of the radiation therapies is 3,500 to 4,000 centigrays (cGy) of radiation. A Gray is defined by the International System of Units (SI) by the absorption of one joule of radiation energy by one kilogram of matter. For that reason, the protocol allows for 35-40 Grays of radiation. (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of