Safety of Aqueous Humor Liquid Biopsy Confirmed in Pediatric Retinoblastoma Patients

Recent research has demonstrated that performing aqueous humor liquid biopsy through anterior chamber paracentesis is a safe and well-tolerated procedure for children with retinoblastoma. Published online in the journal Ophthalmology, the study involved a retrospective multicenter analysis of 1,203 procedures performed on 484 eyes of 425 pediatric patients, including those with retinoblastoma and similar lesions. The findings, led by Dr. Douglas Chigane from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, revealed a remarkably low complication rate of just 0.08%. Only one mild complication was reported among all procedures, with no moderate or severe adverse effects observed during a median follow-up period of 16 months. Importantly, there were no instances of vision loss, eye removal, tumor spread outside the eye, or death attributable to the procedure. These results reinforce the safety profile of aqueous humor liquid biopsy, which is increasingly being used for targeted diagnosis and personalized treatment monitoring in retinoblastoma cases. As this minimally invasive technique advances, it holds promise for improving intraocular cancer management by providing clinicians with critical molecular insights while minimizing risks for pediatric patients. The study emphasizes that these findings should reassure both healthcare providers and parents about adopting this innovative approach in pediatric ophthalmology.