Surgical Management of Pediatric Patients with Intraocular Tumors

The incidence and prevalance of intraocular tumors in pediatric and adult populations are different. Moreover, the same type of tumor may show different clinicopathologic features in the pediatric group. Several types of treatment strategies have been described for benign and malign intraocular tumors: observation, cryotherapy, thermotherapy, laser photocoagulation, surgical excision, plaque brachytherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and enucleation. The purpose of treatment is to control tumor, preserve or prolonge patients life and to preserve eyeball and vision. Surgical excision or resection can be performed as a primary treatment or adjuvant or salvage procedure. Nowadays, surgical treatments like sclerouvectomy and/or vitrectomy is applied increasingly in pediatric population with intraocular tumor.