Optical coherence tomography in preclinical diagnosis of optic nerve disk changes after chemotherapy in children with retinoblastoma

Purpose. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), determine the preclinical changes in optic nerve head (ONH) after chemotherapy in children with retinoblastoma (RB). Material and methods. 38 patients (76 eyes) were examined and treated: 15 girls, 23 boys with RB averagely aged 21.0 ± 1.5 months. Of these, 58 affected eyes before treatment belonged to groups А (3), В (16), С (33), D (3), and Е (3). All tumor nodes were located on the fundus outside the optic disk. The examination of these eyes was carried out on an optical coherent tomograph SOCT Copernicus 4.2 (Poland). The 58 eyes were first tested before treatment, then after 3 or 4 courses of systemic chemotherapy (CT), once again after 6 courses of systemic CT and 1–3 courses of superselective intraarterial CT and 4–9 courses of intravitreal CT. 15 healthy children (30 eyes) of the corresponding age were examined as a control. Results. After 3 courses of systemic CT, OCT determined optic neuropathy with edema in 46.6 %. Morphometric data included parapapillary retinal cystic cavities, elevation of the contour of the optic disc towards the vitreous, increased rim volume (to 0.87 ± 0.12 mm3) and average thickness of the nerve fiber layer increased to 0.39 ± 0.06 mm (p < 0.01). After combined chemotherapy we revealed the thinning of the peripapillary choroid (to 80.0 ± 3.2 μm) with no retinal edema in 34.5 %, a reduction of rim volume to 0.34 ± 0.2 mm3 and the layer of nerve fibers to 0.02 ± 0.01 mm (p < 0.01). These changes are evidences of optic nerve disc atrophy. Conclusion. OCT is an informative method of examining the optic disc in children with RB at different stages of treatment, which identifies signs of edema and symptoms of atrophy more often (respectively, by 15.6 % and 17.3 %). Preclinical diagnostics of optic disc pathology with the help of OCT allows predicting visual functions in children with RB at its early stages and developing a differentiated approach to the choice of RB treatment