Enucleation in retinoblastoma: pros and cons

Primary enucleation is usually the treatment for children with unilateral advanced retinoblastoma (RB). The main advantage of enucleation is that it allows histopathologic evaluation of tumor invasion. Initial dramatic response of intraocular RB has resulted in a trend to use chemotherapy for more severely affected eyes in an attempt to salvage the eye. This article discusses the pros and cons of enucleation in advanced RB and the dangers involved in postponing enucleation with the purpose of salvaging the eye.