Ophthalmology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ophthalmology, including details on eye surgery, myopia, cataracts.

Outcome of retinoblastoma in east Africa.

Bowman RJ, Mafwiri M, Luthert P, Luande J, Wood M

Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Disability Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. richardbowman@bol.co.tz

We estimated the proportion of patients reaching a pediatric ophthalmology unit (Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation for Tanzania Disability Hospital, CCBRT) or an oncology unit (ORCI) in east Africa and investigated presentation, histology, and treatment outcomes of patients with retinoblastoma. A 5-year retrospective study identified 91 patients, representing approximately 18% of the nationwide total. Mean lag time was 10 months (standard deviation (SD) = 17) and mean follow-up was 8 months (SD = 11, range 0-40, n = 91). Thirty months disease-free survival probability was 0.23 (standard error = 0.07). Outcomes for retinoblastoma in Africa remain poor. The data presented here suggest strategies for improving the outcomes, including encouraging earlier presentation and establishment of multi-disciplinary treatment centers.

Published 26 November 2007 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 50(1): 160-2.
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