Retinoblastoma presentation, treatment and outcome in a large referral centre in Tehran: a 10-year retrospective
Mohammad Faranoush1,2, Narjes Mehrvar1,3, Maryam Tashvighi1
1MAHAK Hematology Oncology Research Center (MAHAK-HORC), MAHAK Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
This study evaluated retinoblastoma care in Iran, finding high relapse rates and lower survival rates compared to other studies. Improvements in screening, protocols, and follow-up are needed for better pediatric cancer outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Retinoblastoma diagnosis, care, and treatment present challenges within the Iranian healthcare system.
- Early detection and management are critical for improving outcomes in pediatric cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the management, care, prognosis, and survival rates of pediatric retinoblastoma patients.
- To identify areas for improvement in the treatment protocols and patient follow-up strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 309 pediatric patients diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2007 and 2017.
- Data analysis using SPSS software, with survival rates determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.
Main Results:
- The majority of patients (77%) presented with leukocoria; mean age was 20 months.
- Systemic chemotherapy (94%) was the primary treatment, with high relapse rates (42%) occurring at a median of 9 months.
- Five-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were 79.6% and 41.5%, respectively.
Conclusions:
- The study identified a high recurrence rate and suboptimal survival rates (OS and RFS) compared to international benchmarks.
- Enhancing screening methods, updating treatment protocols, and improving patient follow-up are crucial for improving retinoblastoma outcomes in Iran.
Background/Objectives:
Early diagnosis, care and treatment of retinoblastoma is a challengeable issue for Iranian health system. This study was designed and conducted in a referral multidisciplinary centre in the capital city of Iran to evaluate management, care, prognosis and survival rates of paediatric patients with retinoblastoma.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, a total number of 309 patients younger than 15 years, diagnosed with retinoblastoma, who referred for diagnosis and treatment to MAHAK's Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC) from 2007 to 2017 were evaluated. All data were analyzed via SPSS version 22 software in regard of parametric and non-parametric data. Survival rates were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meyer method.
Results:
The mean age of patients was 20 months and the majority of patients (77%) had leukocoria as a common clinical symptom at the time of diagnosis. Primary treatment methods were systemic chemotherapy (94%), laser (35%) and primary enucleation (28%). Relapses occurred in nearly 42% of cases, and the median time from diagnosis to the first relapse was 9 months. At the time analyzing the data, 11% of patients died. Patients' 5-year OS and RFS rates were 79.6% and 41.5%, respectively.
Conclusion:
Comparing results with other conducted studies identifies that the recurrence rate was high in our considered patients. Also, OS and RFS rates in our study were not as considerable as other reports. Screening methods, updating protocols and follow-up of patients may lead to improvements in survival rates of patients with retinoblastoma.
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