Cryotherapy for Retinoblastoma

Cryotherapy, which uses freezing temperatures to kill cancer cells, can sometimes be used to treat small retinoblastoma tumors.

How cryotherapy is done

Doctors apply cryotherapy to retinoblastoma tumors using a small metal probe that is cooled to very low temperatures. It can be used as a treatment for smaller tumors toward the front of the eye. It is not used routinely for children with several tumors.

The child will be asleep (under general anesthesia) during the treatment. After the child is asleep, the probe is placed on the outer surface of the eyeball next to the tumor, which is then frozen and thawed several times. Cryotherapy is usually given 2 or 3 times, with about a month between treatments.

Possible side effects

Cryotherapy can cause the eye and eyelid to swell for a few days. It can also damage the retina, which can lead to blind spots or temporarily cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye.