Retrospective investigation of retinoblastoma in Chinese patients

Abstract

This is a retrospective investigation of patients with Retinoblastoma (RB) conducted from 2013 to 2016 at the Quanzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital (China). Demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and risk factors were studied.

In total, 436 patients were included in the study. Most of the findings obtained in this study are consistent with other previous reports. The male: female ratio was 1.41:1, and the unilateral: bilateral ratio was 1.51:1. Leukocoria was the most common presenting sign (79.44%), followed by strabismus (12.38%). While, the overall rates of enucleation (15.82%) and mortality (0.92%) were markedly lower than in other reports of RB in Chinese, and most of the patients received conservative therapy. There were signficant differences (p < 0.001) in the age of at first sign and diagnosis, and treatment modalities between patients with bilateral and unilateral RB. The treatment modalities did not show a specific trend over the 3-year study period. Our results suggest that an incorrect initial diagnosis and long lag time may be risk factors for ineffective treatment and a poor prognosis in patients with RB.

This was a comprehensive retrospective investigation in which the sample size exceeded most previous retrospective investigations of RB. Our study confirmed that early detection, accurate diagnosis, and active intervention are conducive to control of retention of patients’ vision. Fundus examinations, education regarding the early signs of RB, and optimization of the therapeutic strategy of RB may play important roles in ocular health.