Retinoblastoma

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Retinoblastoma is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• None

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Retinoblastoma is an extremely rare malignant tumor that develops in the nerve-rich layers that line the back of the eyes (retina). The retina is a thin layer of nerve cells that sense light and convert it into nerve signals, which are then relayed to brain through the optic nerve. Retinoblastoma occurs most commonly in children under the age of three. The most typical finding associated with retinoblastoma is the reflection of light off a tumor behind the lens of the eye, which causes the pupil to appear white, the so called "cat’s eye reflex" (leukokoria). In addition, the eyes may be misaligned so that they appear crossed (strabismus). In some affected children, the eye(s) may become red and/or painful. The presence of a retinoblastoma may cause glaucoma, a condition marked by a rise in the pressure within the eyeball preventing the normal drainage of fluid from the eye and potentially causing characteristic damage to the optic nerve. Retinoblastoma may affect one eye (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral). Bilateral forms of retinoblastoma are hereditary. In most cases, retinoblastoma occurs spontaneously for no apparent reason (sporadic).

Resources

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

P.O. Box 498

Kensington, MD 20895-0498

Tel: (301)962-3520

Fax: (301)962-3521

Tel: (800)366-2223

Email: staff@candlelighters,org

Internet: http://www.candlelighters.org



American Cancer Society, Inc.

1599 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

USA

Tel: 4043203333

Tel: 8002272345

Internet: http://www.cancer.org



NIH/National Eye Institute

Building 31 Rm 6A32

31 Center Dr MSC 2510

Bethesda, MD 20892-2510

United States

Tel: 3014965248

Fax: 3014021065

Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/



National Cancer Institute

6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

USA

Tel: 3014353848

Tel: 8004226237

TDD: 8003328615

Internet: http://www.cancer.gov



Institute for Families

P.O. Box 54700

Mailstop #111

Los Angeles, CA 90054-0700

USA

Tel: 3236694649

Fax: 3236657869

Email: info@instituteforfamilies.org

Internet: http://www.instituteforfamilies.org



National Childhood Cancer Foundation

PO Box 60012

Suite 402

Arcadia, CA 91066-6012

USA

Tel: 6264471674

Fax: 6264476359

Tel: 8004586223

Email: nccf-info@nccf.org

Internet: http://www.nccf.org/nccf/



Eye Cancer Network

115 East 61st St

New York, NY 10021

Tel: (212)832-8170

Fax: (212)888-4030

Email: pfinger@eyecancer.org

Internet: http://www.eyecancer.com



EyeCare Foundation

115 East 61st Street

Suite 5B

New York, NY 10021

Tel: (212)832-7297

Fax: (212)888-4030

Email: contactus@eyecarefoundation.org

Internet: http://www.eyecarefoundation.org



Friends of Cancer Research

2231 Crystal Drive

Suite 200

Arlington, VA 22202

Tel: (703)302-1503

Fax: (703)302-1568

Email: info@focr.org

Internet: http://www.focr.org



Cancer.Net

American Society of Clinical Oncology

2318 Mill Road

Suite 800

Alexandria, VA 22314

Tel: (571)483-1780

Fax: (571)366-9537

Tel: (888)651-3038

Email: contactus@cancer.net

Internet: http://www.cancer.net/patient



Wellness Community

919 18th Street N.W.

Suite 54

Washington, DC 20006

Tel: (202)659-9709

Fax: (202)659-9301

Tel: (888)793-9355

Email: help@thewellnesscommunity.org

Internet: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org



Lance Armstrong Foundation

PO Box 161550

Austin, TX 78716-1150

Tel: (512)236-8820

Fax: (512)236-8482

Tel: (866)235-7205

Internet: http://www.livestrong.org



Perkins School for the Blind

175 North Beacon St.

Watertown, MA 02472

Tel: (617)924-3434

Fax: (617)926-2027

Email: Info@Perkins.org

Internet: http://www.Perkins.org



Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

The Royal London Hospital

Whitechapel Road

London, E1 1BB

England

Tel: 020 7377 5578

Fax: 020 7377 0740

Email: info@chect.org.uk

Internet: http://www.chect.org.uk

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/14/2008

Copyright  1986, 1987, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Last updated:	April 14, 2008