Post-chemotherapy changes in retinal pigment epithelium in retinoblastoma eyes.

OBJECTIVE

Histopathological analysis of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) changes in retinoblastoma (RB) cases who received pre-surgical chemotherapy.

DESIGN

Laboratory-based observational study.

METHODS

Five-year analysis was performed to identify Retinoblastoma cases who underwent enucleation after receiving systemic chemotherapy. Grossly, RPE cells were observed in flat preparation in small calottes by staining with fluorescein stain in the raw specimens. They were documented under the objective of compound microscope and compared with hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides in the permanent tissue sections.

RESULTS

Out of 51 cases of RB, post-chemotherapy enucleation was performed in 17 cases. Mean age of enucleation was 3.2 years. Endophytic RB (11 cases, 64.71%) was more common than the exophytic variety. Choroidal involvement was noted in 8 cases (47.06%), and optic nerve involvement was seen in 5 cases (29.4%). Focal and diffuse RPE changes were seen in one case each (5.88%). Central RPE cell changes near the cell nucleus were seen in all 17 cases (100%), which were documented by both fluorescein and Hematoxylin and eosin stain (100%). Drusens were observed in 8 cases (47.06%), and RPE proliferations were seen in 3 cases (17.65%).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the characteristic histopathological RPE changes after systemic chemotherapy in RB cases. These changes may be attributable to cell nucleus damage after chemotherapy.