Overview

Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer that begins in the part of the eye called the retina. The retina is a thin layer of nerve tissue that coats the back of the eye and enables the eye to see. Most cases are unilateral (involving only one eye), but some may be bilateral (involving both eyes). If retinoblastoma spreads, it can spread to the lymph nodes, bones, or the bone marrow (the soft, spongy-like material found within large bones). Rarely, it involves the central nervous system (CNS; brain and spinal cord).

Children may be born with retinoblastoma, but the disease is rarely diagnosed at birth. Most children who begin treatment before the retinoblastoma has spread beyond the eye are cured. An important goal of treatment in children with retinoblastoma is preserving vision.

To learn about the cancer terms used in this section, read the Cancer.Net Feature: Cancer Terms to Know: Basic Oncology Terms.

Each year, about 200 to 300 children in the United States are diagnosed with retinoblastoma. Nearly all cases occur in children younger than five years old. Retinoblastoma makes up 3% of all cancers diagnosed in children 14 years old and younger. The five-year relative survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) for children with retinoblastoma is more than 90%.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with retinoblastoma. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2009.

Find out more about basic cancer terms used in this section.