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Children's
Eye Cancer Centre Overview
The first and the only Ocular Oncology Centre in India was established at the
L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad in the year 2000. At this centre, we have
diagnosed and comprehensively managed over 5000 patients with eye cancers and
related disorders, 20% of whom are children. Management of eye cancers in children
warrants a specialized team approach when compared to adults. Cancer
is the second leading cause of death in children under 14 years of age. Cancers
of the eye and related structures, if untreated, lead to certain death. About
20 - 30% of cancers of the eye and related structures occur in the pediatric age
group. The tumors are diverse, ranging from retinoblastoma (the most common primary
intraocular malignant tumor in children) to rhabdomyosarcoma (the most common
malignant primary orbital tumor). Until
recently, many of the tumors were generally considered to be relatively resistant
to treatment. Several recent refinements related to the diagnosis and management
of these lesions, however, have been quite encouraging. A few decades ago, retinoblastoma
was considered to be uniformly fatal, while the current management strategy is
able to save life in over 95% of children and salvage the eye and the vision as
well. About 1000 children are diagnosed
with retinoblastoma each year in India, most of them under four years of age.
About 75% of children with retinoblastoma have a tumor in one eye, while in the
remaining 25%, both eyes are affected. Retinoblastoma accounts for 5% of childhood
blindness. If detected early, cure
is possible with appropriate treatment. Useful vision is maintained after treatment
in 85% of affected eyes. The following series of pictures illustrates the role
of chemoreduction coupled with sequential aggressive local therapy in the management
of retinoblastoma. This multidisciplinary approach results in eye salvage in about
85% of patients with an excellent potential for residual vision.
Advanced orbital tumors
that had a mortality of over 70% can now be cured in a majority of patients with
the current protocol combining chemoreduction with surgery and radiotherapy. On
January 24, 2004, the Sight Savers International funded Children's Eye Cancer
Centre was inaugurated by international luminaries in pediatric cancer: Alfred
Knudson, Anna Meadows, Carol Shields, and Jerry Shields. The Children's Eye Cancer
Centre addresses management needs of children affected by the cancers of the eye
and related structures. It is a tertiary care referral center and will actively
seek referrals from across the country. | 
