Amniotic Membrane Augmentation for Enucleation After Chemotherapy in Retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To describe amniotic membrane augmentation for enucleation after chemotherapy in retinoblastoma.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with retinoblastoma who underwent enucleation. The study also evaluated the utility of amniotic membrane grafting in enucleation after chemotherapy in eyes with retinoblastoma.

RESULTS: In this study, 110 eyes of 107 patients were analyzed, and 49 patients had previous systemic chemotherapy, 13 eyes had previous intra-arterial chemotherapy, and 7 eyes had external beam radiation. Amniotic graft was used in 8 eyes (5 following IAC, 2 following systemic chemotherapy, and 1 after both). After IAC, 3 of 7 eyes without amniotic graft had implant exposure compared to 0 of 6 eyes with amniotic graft ( P = .05). Pathological examination of the conjunctiva after intra-arterial chemotherapy showed goblet cell hypoplasia that hinders wound healing.

CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane augmentation improves wound integrity in patients with retinoblastoma, especially following intra-arterial chemotherapy. [ J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus . 20XX;X(X):XXX-XXX.] .