Retinoblastoma (reh-tin-oh-blast-oma) is a childhood cancer arising from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes. The tumors develop in the human fetus, newborns, infants (premature and full-term), and preschoolers under age five years.

Among infants and children, common signs of retinoblastoma include having a white “glow” or “glint” in the pupil of one or both eyes, the presence of a white pupil in a color photo, and crossed or misaligned eyes.

The gene associated with retinoblastoma causes the tumor only when it is not working properly. Humans have two copies of this “tumor suppressor” gene that protect them against retinoblastoma and other tumors in each cell in their bodies. When both copies of this gene stop or are prevented from functioning properly, this cancer develops.

Ninety percent of retinoblastoma patients have no family history of the disease and only 10 percent of newly diagnosed patients have other family members who are retinoblastoma survivors.

Call your primary care physician and ask for an immediate appointment. Request the physician do a pupil dilation in both eyes before examining. If your pediatrician is unable or unwilling to do the pupil dilation, request the name of a pediatric ophthalmologist. If the physician says everything is fine and you do not agree, insist on a referral.