Clinicopathologic factors related to metastasis in retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the orbital invasion and metastatic pattern in retinoblastoma, and to analyze the correlation with other pathologic and prognostic factors.

METHODS

Pathologic and admission records of 45 patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of retinoblastoma during the past 20 years were reviewed. Clinical risk factors and pathologic findings were analyzed for association with tumor invasion/metastasis using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Student's t tests.

RESULTS

Clinical risk factors such as exophthalmos, cataract, and pseudohypopyon were significantly correlated with tumor invasion/metastasis. The pathologic finding of choroid involvement was highly predictive of tumor invasion/metastasis. Delayed enucleation (>3 months) also was significantly correlated with tumor invasion/metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Tumor invasion/metastasis is strongly associated with various ocular, pathologic, and treatment outcome factors. Identification of these risk factors may help plan treatment regimens.