To report four cases of optic nerve neuropathy in three children treated with periocular carboplatin injections for unilateral or bilateral intraocular retinoblastoma.

Retrospective, observational case series.

setting: University-based Ophthalmology Practice. study population: Four eyes of three children with retinoblastoma enucleated after nonsuccessful multimodality treatment including periocular carboplatin injections. observation procedures: The enucleated eyes were routinely processed and evaluated by light microscopy. A retrospective chart review of all four cases was performed.

Three enucleated eyes (Reese-Ellsworth groups III and VB) were obtained from two children with bilateral multifocal retinoblastoma, and one eye (Reese-Ellsworth group IIB) was harvested from a child with unilateral retinoblastoma. All affected eyes underwent three to seven periocular carboplatin injections before enucleation. Additional treatment modalities included systemic chemotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, transscleral cryotherapy, and external beam radiotherapy. Histopathologic evaluation of the enucleated eyes revealed focal areas of ischemic necrosis or atrophy of the optic nerve along with dystrophic calcification and mild inflammation in the surrounding fibrovascular adipose tissue.

Periocular injections of carboplatin may be a useful treatment approach in the management of patients with advanced intraocular retinoblastoma and may minimize systemic side-effects. However, ophthalmologists and pediatric oncologists should be aware of potential marked local complications with periocular carboplatin delivery, including ischemic optic neuropathy. Modifying the injection site/location (for example, subtenon space) or adding other delivery routes adjuncts (for example, fibrin sealant) deserves further study.