Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
[Clinical features of retinoblastoma in Tunisia]
A Chebbi1, H Bouguila1, S Boussaid1
1Department A of ophthalmology, Hedi Rais institute of ophthalmology, boulevard 9-Avril, 1006 Bab Saadoun, Tunis, Tunisie.
Insights
The most common signs of retinoblastoma in Tunisian children are leukocoria and strabismus. Leukocoria and proptosis indicate a poorer prognosis, emphasizing early diagnosis for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
Context:
- Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children.
- Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes and preserving vision.
Purpose:
- To determine the frequency of presenting signs of retinoblastoma in Tunisian children.
- To assess the prognostic significance of these signs.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 200 Tunisian children with retinoblastoma (1993-2009).
- Leukocoria (80%) and strabismus (28%) were the most frequent signs.
- Leukocoria and proptosis were associated with a worse prognosis, while extraocular disease occurred in 13%.
Impact:
- Recognizing presenting signs facilitates earlier diagnosis of retinoblastoma.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the prognosis for affected children.
Purpose:
To report the relative frequency of presenting signs in Tunisian children with retinoblastoma and to evaluate their prognostic impact.
Methods:
A retrospective study was undertaken of 200 patients with retinoblastoma examined and treated between January 1993 and June 2009.
Results:
There were 123 boys and 77 girls. For all cases, mean age at diagnosis was 29.8 months (range, 1 month to 9 years). There were 138 (69%) unilateral cases and 62 (31%) bilateral cases. Nineteen children (9.5%) had a family history of retinoblastoma. The most common signs were leukocoria (80%) and strabismus (28%) followed by proptosis. Orbital inflammation, hyphemia and phthisis are rare presenting findings in retinoblastoma. In our series, 26 children (13%) presented with extraocular retinoblastoma. Leukocoria and proptosis are significantly associated with a worse prognosis.
Conclusion:
The ability to recognize the presenting signs and symptoms of retinoblastoma can lead to earlier diagnosis and better prognosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy