Warning over leucocoria

To mark Retinoblastoma Awareness Week (May 8-14) campaigners for greater awareness about cancer in childhood have proposed that the personal child health record (the red book) be amended to include leucocoria (white pupil).

A pale pupil can indicate conditions such as congenital cataract, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous and retrolental fibroplasia, but it may also indicate the presence of a retinoblastoma if found in a child under five years.

Retinoblastoma is the commonest primary malignant tumour of the developing eye and affects one in every 20,000 babies each year, representing 3 per cent of all UK childhood malignant neoplasms. Delays to treatment may result in enucleation, and in extreme cases death.