Primary prevention
There are no known measures for preventing spontaneous retinoblastoma.
For families with a known germline mutation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis has been performed. In this procedure, embryos are fertilized using standard IVF techniques and biopsied at the 8 cell stage. Embryos found to be free of the familial mutation in the retinoblastoma gene are implanted, resulting in a live birth of a healthy child.[40] Genetic counseling for families may be helpful to guide appropriate screening and risk reduction measures.[41]
Secondary prevention
Preventive measures to decrease the risk of secondary cancers in germinal retinoblastoma patients include cessation of smoking during pregnancy, reduction in sun exposure, and reduction in exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., x-rays and CT scans).[109]
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