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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
Outcome of retinoblastoma in east Africa
R J C Bowman1, M Mafwiri, P Luthert
1Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Disability Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. richardbowman@bol.co.tz
Abstract:
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.
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