Four cases of bilateral glioma of the retina cured by enucleation of the two eyes / by E. Treacher Collins.

  • Collins, E. Treacher (Edward Treacher), 1862-1937.
Date:
[1896]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Four cases of bilateral glioma of the retina cured by enucleation of the two eyes / by E. Treacher Collins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    of a mottled grey and white colour on section. Micro- scopically it presented the same appearances as the growth in the left eye. I have seen the patient at intervals of about six months since the operation, until September 15th, 1894, i. e. three years and three months after ; she was then perfectly well, the sockets of the eyes were healthy, and there was not the least sign of recurrence. Seeing, then, that in all these four cases the patient has been seen to be alive, in good health and without the least sign of recurrent growth after an interval of more than three years fi'om the date of the removal of the second eye, i. e. after the longest interval at which there is any authentic record of a recurrence having occurred, I think I may justly claim that these patients are cured. Cases such as these go to show, that when glioma occurs in the two eyes, the growth in the second one is not due to an extension of the tumour along the optic nerve and optic chiasma to the second eye, but that probably the two growths are two primary tumours of independent origin. The interval between the time at which the growths were first noticed in the two eyes was unusually long in Case 1, viz. three years. It will no doubt occur to many, that granting it is possible to save life by the removal of the two eyes, would it not be better to allow the disease to run its course ? Would it not be better to let the patient die of the dis- ease than to grow up handicapped from the very outset of life by the complete loss of sight ? This is an ethical question upon which I do not intend to say much, my purpose being to show that life can be saved by the removal of the two eyes. In such cases I think we should point out to the parents of the child this fact and leave them to decide for themselves what shall be done, I may add that in the four cases I have read, the mothers of the blind children seemed exceedingly pleased and proud of them. 2