Angiographic analysis of ophthalmic artery flow direction in children undergoing chemosurgery for retinoblastoma compared to age-matched controls

Abstract

Purpose Catheter-based intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) has revolutionized the treatment of retinoblastoma (RB). Variability in ophthalmic artery (OA) flow, either retrograde from external carotid artery branches, or anterograde from the internal carotid artery, necessitates multiple IAC techniques. We evaluated the direction of OA flow and identify OA flow reversal events over the course of IAC treatment as well in comparison to OA flow direction in non-RB children. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of OA flow direction in all RB patients treated with IAC, along with an age-matched control group who underwent cerebral angiography at our center from 2014 to 2020. Results IAC was administered to a total of 18 eyes (15 patients). Initial anterograde OA flow was demonstrated in 66% ( n  =  12) of eyes. Five OA reversal events were identified (3/5 anterograde-to-retrograde). All five events were in patients receiving multiagent chemotherapy. No correlation was found between OA flow reversal events and the initial IAC technique. A control group of 88 angiograms representing 82 eyes (41 patients) was utilized. The anterograde flow was observed in 76 eyes (86.4%). Our control group included 19 patients with sequential angiograms. One OA flow reversal event was identified. Conclusion OA flow direction is dynamic in IAC patients. Anterograde and retrograde OA directional switches do occur and may necessitate delivery technique variation. In our analysis, all OA flow reversal events were associated with multiagent chemotherapy regimens. Both anterograde and retrograde OA flow patterns were observed in our control cohort, suggesting bidirectional flow can occur in non-RB children.