To evaluate the results of transpupillary thermotherapy combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma patients treated with chemotherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy from November, 2004 to October, 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Local tumor control was assessed in terms of regression or recurrence, at 1 month after chemotherapy and each session of thermotherapy, as well as the final follow-up period.

Fifty-nine tumors were treated in 15 eyes of 11 children. Age at diagnosis was 7.4±6.9 months. Mean tumor diameter at the time of diagnosis was 2.2±2.1 disc diameters (DD) and mean tumor diameter at the time of initial thermotherapy was 1.8±1.7DD. Mean number of thermotherapy sessions for each tumor was 1.3±0.5. Total tumor regression was obtained for 96.6% of tumors after a mean follow-up of 22.3±10.7 months. The initial tumor size before thermotherapy was significantly smaller in the group of tumors showing total regression after the first session of thermotherapy. The time required for total regression after initial thermotherapy was related to the initial tumor size before thermotherapy.

Transpupillary thermotherapy combined with chemotherapy is an effective modality for treating retinoblastoma, and the initial tumor diameter before treatment is a strong predictive factor of successful treatment response.