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Retinoblastoma

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Synonyms of Retinoblastoma
  • No synonyms found

Disorder Subdivisions

  • No synonyms found


General Discussion
Retinoblastoma is an extremely rare malignant tumor that develops in the nerve-rich layers that line the back of the eyes (retina). The retina is a thin layer of nerve cells that sense light and convert it into nerve signals, which are then relayed to brain through the optic nerve. Retinoblastoma occurs most commonly in children under the age of three. The most typical finding associated with retinoblastoma is the reflection of light off a tumor behind the lens of the eye, which causes the pupil to appear white, the so called "cat’s eye reflex" (leukokoria). In addition, the eyes may be misaligned so that they appear crossed (strabismus). In some affected children, the eye(s) may become red and/or painful. The presence of a retinoblastoma may cause glaucoma, a condition marked by a rise in the pressure within the eyeball preventing the normal drainage of fluid from the eye and potentially causing characteristic damage to the optic nerve. Retinoblastoma may affect one eye (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral). Bilateral forms of retinoblastoma are hereditary. In most cases, retinoblastoma occurs spontaneously for no apparent reason (sporadic).

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Organizations related to Retinoblastoma
  • American Cancer Society, Inc.
    1599 Clifton Road NE
    Atlanta GA 30329
    Phone #: 404-320-3333
    800 #: 800-227-2345
    e-mail: N/A
    Home page: http://www.cancer.org
  • American Childhood Cancer Organization
    10400 Connecticut Avenue
    Suite 205
    Kensington MD 20895
    Phone #: 301-962-3520
    800 #: 800-366-2223
    e-mail: staff@acco.org
    Home page: http://www.candlelighters.org
  • Cancer Support Community
    919 18th Street N.W.
    Suite 54
    Washington DC 20006
    Phone #: 202-659-9709
    800 #: 888-793-9355
    e-mail: N/A
    Home page: www.cancersupportcommunity.org
  • Cancer.Net
    American Society of Clinical Oncology
    2318 Mill Road
    Suite 800
    Alexandria VA 22314
    Phone #: 571-483-1780
    800 #: 888-651-3038
    e-mail: contactus@cancer.net
    Home page: http://www.cancer.net/patient
  • Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
    The Royal London Hospital
    Whitechapel Road
    London None E1 1BB
    Phone #: 020- 73-77 5578
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: info@chect.org.uk
    Home page: http://www.chect.org.uk
  • CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation
    4600 East West Highway, Suite 600
    Bethesda MD 20814-3457
    Phone #: 626-447-1674
    800 #: 800-458-6223
    e-mail: info@curesearch.org
    Home page: http://www.nccf.org/nccf/
  • Eye Cancer Network
    115 East 61st St, 5th Floor
    New York NY 10021
    Phone #: 212-832-8170
    800 #: --
    e-mail: pfinger@eyecancer.com
    Home page: http://www.eyecancer.com
  • EyeCare Foundation
    115 East 61st Street
    Suite 5B
    New York NY 10021
    Phone #: 212-832-7297
    800 #: --
    e-mail: contactus@eyecarefoundation.org
    Home page: http://www.eyecarefoundation.org
  • Friends of Cancer Research
    2231 Crystal Drive
    Suite 200
    Arlington VA 22202
    Phone #: 703-302-1503
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: info@focr.org
    Home page: http://www.focr.org
  • Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
    PO Box 8126
    Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
    Phone #: 301-251-4925
    800 #: 888-205-2311
    e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
    Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
  • Institute for Families
    4650 Sunset Blvd, Mail Stop 111
    Los Angeles CA 90027
    Phone #: 323-361-4649
    800 #: --
    e-mail: info@instituteforfamilies.org
    Home page: http://www.instituteforfamilies.org
  • Lance Armstrong Foundation
    2201 E. Sixth Street
    Austin TX 78702
    Phone #: 512-236-8820
    800 #: 877-236-8820
    e-mail: media@livestrong.org
    Home page: http://www.livestrong.org
  • MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
    150 Custer Court
    Green Bay WI 54301-1243
    Phone #: 920-336-5333
    800 #: 877-336-5333
    e-mail: mums@netnet.net
    Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
  • Madisons Foundation
    PO Box 241956
    Los Angeles CA 90024
    Phone #: 310-264-0826
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
    Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
  • NIH/National Eye Institute
    Building 31 Rm 6A32
    31 Center Dr MSC 2510
    Bethesda MD 20892-2510
    Phone #: 301-496-5248
    800 #: --
    e-mail: 2020@nei.nih.gov
    Home page: http://www.nei.nih.gov/
  • National Cancer Institute
    6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
    Bethesda MD 20892-8322
    Phone #: 301-435-3848
    800 #: 800-422-6237
    e-mail: cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov
    Home page: http://www.cancer.gov
  • Perkins School for the Blind
    175 North Beacon St.
    Watertown MA 02472
    Phone #: 617-924-3434
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: Info@Perkins.org
    Home page: http://www.Perkins.org
  • Rare Cancer Alliance
    1649 North Pacana Way
    Green Valley AZ 85614
    Phone #: 520-625-5495
    800 #: --
    e-mail: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org
    Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org

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Last modified Wednesday, November 26, 2008