Chromosome Studies in Retinoblastoma

Abstract

Retinoblastoma is a malignant neoplasm of the retina of infants and young children which is most frequently recognized during the first and second years of life and seldom appears after the sixth year.^1,2 The appearance of the neoplasm seems to be sporadic, since, in the majority of cases, no other member of the child's family has a past or present history of the disease.³ However, the numerous reports in the literature of families in which a very high proportion of the members are affected^3-7 have led to the recognition of a hereditary form of the disease. Apart from a positive family history and a greater incidence of bilateral cases in the hereditary form of the disease,^6,7 no other criteria exist by which the 2 types of retinoblastoma can be distinguished from each other. The victim of apparently sporadic retinoblastoma, if he survives and marries, may become