This systematic review and meta-analysis examined twelve studies involving children with retinoblastoma. The researchers compared intra-arterial chemotherapy, delivered directly into the artery feeding the eye, against standard intravenous chemotherapy. The analysis found consistent associations favoring the intra-arterial approach across several key measures.
Patients receiving intra-arterial chemotherapy showed better overall survival and event-free survival compared to those receiving intravenous treatment. The data also indicated a higher rate of globe salvage, meaning the eye was saved more often. Additionally, the intra-arterial method was linked to a greater likelihood of avoiding the need to remove the eye.
The study noted that metastatic events remained uncommon in both treatment groups. While the findings support the role of intra-arterial chemotherapy in modern management, the authors caution that comparative studies drove the quantitative results while some series were summarized qualitatively. These results are relevant for settings with appropriate technical expertise and multidisciplinary resources.