Dr Nora Martinez

Retinoblastomas can be classified into 2 categories: one is caused by inheriting a defective gene (familial) and the other is caused by a random change in the RB gene during cell replication (sporadic). The main cause of retinoblastoma is through the sporadic form. About 90% of children with retinoblastoma have no previous family history of the disease. Meanwhile, children who have a parent with the disease only account for less than 10% of all diagnosed cases. Retinoblastoma that occurs in only one eye is usually not inherited. Retinoblastoma that occurs in both eyes is almost always inherited.