Distant metastatic retinoblastoma without central nervous system involvement

Abstract

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy in children, with a reported incidence ranging from 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 18,000 live births. Metastatic retinoblastoma is rare in developed countries, with a reported range from 4.8% in the United States to 5.8% in the United Kingdom. However, the frequency reported from developing countries varies from 9 to 11% at presentation. The mortality is very high owing to late presentations, delayed diagnosis compounded by socio-economic factors. The management of metastatic retinoblastoma is evolving, but it is still a challenge in pediatric oncology. We present a case of an extensive skeletal metastasis that initially presented as a massive orbital retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy in children, with a reported incidence ranging from 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 18,000 live births.[1] Orbital retinoblastoma is one of the major contributors to mortality and carries a poor prognosis for life.[2,3,4,5] The presence of orbital invasion is associated with 10–27 times higher risk of metastasis when compared to cases without orbital extension.[5,6,7] The frequency of metastatic retinoblastoma ranges from 4.8 to 11%.[2,3] The presenting signs and symptoms are quite variable and depend on the site or sites of involvement. The common sites of extraocular retinoblastoma include the orbit, preauricular nodes, bones, central nervous system (CNS) and liver.

Case Report

A 5-year-old boy presented with prominence of the right eyeball since the past 5 months. There was a past history of the parents noticing whitish reflex in the right eye since past 1 year. There was no positive family history. Examination under anesthesia revealed the right eye to have proptosis of more than 8 mm with extraocular mass, and anterior segment details were all obscured [Fig. 1a]. The left eye anterior segment was normal and the fundus showed a 4 × 3 × 2 mm partly calcified tumor in the supero-nasal periphery and a 1 × 1 × 1 mm fully calcified regressed tumor in the infero-temporal periphery. Computed tomography (CT) scans were classical of a bilateral retinoblastoma with right eye extraocular and optic nerve extension. However, there was no intracranial extension [Fig. 1b]. A systemic workup including bone marrow biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was done. Bone marrow was positive for tumor deposits of malignant round cells. The cells were small with scant rim of cytoplasm and a round hyperchromatic nucleus with prominent nuclear molding. The CSF cytology was within normal limits. Based on this, a diagnosis of metastatic retinoblastoma stage IV a (distant metastatic retinoblastoma without CNS involvement) was made. The patient was started on a 3-weekly high-dose chemotherapy protocol with vincristine, etoposide and carboplatin (VEC regime). Following four cycles, the right eye proptosis resolved and there was atrophic bulbi with total vascularized corneal scar. The left eye tumor regressed completely.

Figure 1.

(a) Clinical photograph showing right eye orbital retinoblastoma; (b) CT scan (sagital reconstruction) showing right eye orbital retinoblastoma with optic nerve extension

The patient was then lost to follow-up and again presented with mild proptosis in the right eye. Examination under anesthesia revealed right eye upper periocular edema and numerous firm and tender swellings on the forehead and scalp [Fig. 2a] with large areas of thin scleral ectasia. Left eye was found to have regressed tumors. CT scans showed the right eye to have similar findings as noted in the initial visits, but in addition, there was diffuse heterogeneous mass involving the frontal bones and the superior orbits with diffuse, irregular bony erosions [Fig. 2b]. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the forehead lesion, bone marrow biopsy and CSF analysis were done. Bone marrow biopsy and FNAC were positive for tumor deposits of malignant round cells [Fig. 3]. The systemic condition of the child was poor. An impression of extensive skeletal metastasis was made and the patient is currently on a palliative chemotherapy with high dose of vincristine, etoposide and carboplatin. At current follow-up of 4 months following palliative therapy, the patient is stable.

Figure 2.

(a) Clinical photograph showing extensive nodules on the forehead and scalp. Compare the right eye with that of Fig. 1a; (b) CT scan (sagital reconstruction) showing forehead nodules with underlying frontal bone erosions. Compare with CT scan in Fig. 1b

Figure 3.

Bone marrow showing tumor deposits of malignant round cells (×400)

Discussion

Retinoblastoma can metastasize to the regional lymph nodes, CNS and distant organs, usually the bone and bone marrow. CNS involvement is not only through optic nerve, but also can happen hematogenously. Accordingly, Jubran et al.[8] suggested four patterns of metastatic retinoblastoma, each having different clinical features and outcomes: trilateral retinoblastoma, regional metastasis, extension into CNS and distant metastasis.

The presenting signs and symptoms depend on the sites of involvement. Extensive orbital disease may present with a proptosis and an orbital mass. Bone metastasis like in this case may present with pain, fever and abnormally low blood counts. CNS metastasis may present variably depending on the location and extent of involvement and includes headache, irritability, emesis and focal neurological signs.[9]

Optic nerve involvement is the most important risk factor for CNS metastasis, whereas extrascleral invasion is reported to be the most significant risk factor for distant metastasis as the tumor gains access to vascular and lymphatic channels outside the eye.[3] Other risk factors that are linked to metastasis include massive choroidal invasion, anterior segment seeding, iris and ciliary body infiltration.[4,5,6]

Systemic workup for a suspected metastatic disease includes brain and orbit magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without contrast, lumbar puncture for CSF cytology, abdominal CT, bone scan and bone marrow biopsy. The laboratory workup includes complete blood counts with differential count, liver function test, renal function test and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.[9]

The Children's Oncology Group is conducting a trial of the treatment of metastatic retinoblastoma (COG ARET 0321: A Trial of Intensive Multi-modality Therapy for Extraocular Retinoblastoma – The Extraocular Disease Protocol). The patients are stratified into three groups: those with orbital/nodal disease, those with CNS disease and those with systemic disease. Each patient will undergo induction therapy with cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and etoposide, followed by harvesting of the progenitor bone marrow stem cells. Patients who have distant metastasis will then receive high-dose therapy using etoposide, carboplatin and thiotepa followed by stem cell rescue, and depending upon the response will then be considered for involved field external beam radiotherapy.[5,10] Exenteration is not an option in extensive systemic metastasis like in the present case, but is considered only in orbital retinoblastoma without systemic metastasis following chemoreduction as a part of multimodal therapy.[5]

The prognosis of metastatic retinoblastoma has been traditionally dismal. There is a lot of new encouraging literature suggesting that high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue is associated with improved survival for patients with distant metastatic retinoblastoma without CNS involvement, like in our case.[11] The children's oncology group trials may help formulate a relatively effective strategy for the management of metastatic retinoblastoma, which still remains a challenge in pediatric oncology.