Retinoblastomas represent about 2 percent of childhood cancers. About 10 percent of children with retinoblastomas have relatives with this type of cancer and inherit the gene for it from their parents. An additional 20 to 30 percent of children have the cancer in both eyes, which indicates they have acquired the gene as a new mutation. A combined total of about 30 to 40 percent of children with retinoblastoma thus have the gene for retinoblastoma, which they can pass on to their children. However, other causes of a white pupil or strabismus are far more common.
Retinoblastomas tend to produce few other symptoms.
If a doctor suspects a retinoblastoma, the child is given general anesthesia and both eyes are examined. General anesthesia is necessary because small children aren't able to cooperate for the careful, time-consuming examination required to diagnose retinoblastoma. Because the tumor can spread to the bone marrow, a sample of bone marrow is obtained for examination. Prognosis and Treatment Retinoblastomas that are confined to the eye are cured more than 90 percent of the time. When the cancer affects only one eye, the entire eyeball is removed, along with part of the optic nerve.