Secondary glaucoma in retinoblastoma

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the causes of secondary glaucoma in retinoblastoma (RB) and underscore the significance of glaucoma as a presenting sign of RB.

Methods: A 7-month-old boy, initially diagnosed with congenital glaucoma in the left eye (OS), revealed an intraocular RB on further work-up. The eye was eventually enucleated and histopathology showed iris neovascularization (NVI) and a large solitary posterior-pole RB tumor with total retinal detachment. Using this as an illustrative case, a literature search on the relationship of glaucoma and RB was done to determine the incidence and the most common mechanisms of RB-induced glaucoma.

Results: The most common mechanisms of secondary glaucoma in RB were: iris neovascularization (30–72%), pupillary block (27%), and tumor seeding of the anterior chamber (2%).

Conclusion: We presented a case of RB-induced glaucoma that mimicked congenital glaucoma. Awareness that RB may present initially as glaucoma is essential for appropriate evaluation and management.