Autofluorescence of treated retinoblastoma

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the autofluorescent features of retinoblastomas after treatment. Methods: Standard fundus photography and autofluorescence (AF) photography (580 nm excitation, 695 nm barrier filter) were performed on 88 tumors of 61 patients. Clinical features were correlated with autofluorescent features. Results: The mean patient age at AF was 10.3 years. Of the 88 tumors, 5 (6%) were untreated, and 83 (94%) were treated. The untreated retinoblastomas showed hyperautofluorescence (hyperAF) at the site of calcification in all 5 cases (100%). The treated retinoblastomas showed intrinsic calcification in 54 cases (65%) and bright hyperAF at the site of calcification was detected in all cases. Of the 60 tumors with noncalcified remnant, the noncalcified portion was mildly hyperAF in 20 (33%), isoautofluorescence in 31 (52%), and mildly hypoautofluorescence (hypoAF) in 9 (15%). Surrounding retinal pigment epithelium hyperplasia appeared moderately hypoAF in 58 of 58 eyes (100%). Retinal pigment epithelium atrophy appeared mildly hyperAF in 29 (37%), isoautofluorescence in 33 (42%), and mildly hypoAF in 16 (21%). Conclusions: AF of retinoblastoma generally shows bright hyperAF of the calcified portion and variable AF of the noncalcified portion. The AF of calcification in retinoblastoma was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy of unstained sections of retinoblastoma after enucleation. Copyright © 2011 by the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.