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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

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Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
Increasing Familial Retinoblastoma in High-Income Countries despite Stable Overall Incidence, 2017 to 2024
Yael Lustig-Barzelay1, Dupe S Ademola-Popoola2, Mazin Faisal Al-Jadiry3
1Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Ophthalmology. Retina
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Retinoblastoma (RB) incidence in high-income countries remained stable. However, the proportion of familial RB significantly increased, indicating a growing hereditary role in disease burden.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children.
- Understanding RB incidence and its subtypes is crucial for public health planning and genetic counseling.
- Previous studies have indicated variations in RB incidence globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate retinoblastoma (RB) incidence in high-income countries (HICs).
- To assess changes in the proportion of familial RB between 2017 and 2024.
- To inform genetic counseling and surveillance strategies.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, repeated cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Data were collected from 33 HICs participating in the Global Retinoblastoma Study in both 2017 and 2024.
- Poisson generalized estimating equation models were used to compare RB incidence and familial RB proportions between the two study years.
Main Results:
- Overall RB incidence in HICs remained stable from 2017 to 2024 (1:15,408 vs. 1:16,399).
- Sporadic RB incidence also showed no significant change.
- A significant increase in the proportion of familial RB was observed, rising from 7.1% in 2017 to 10.4% in 2024 (a 46.5% relative increase).
Conclusions:
- While overall RB incidence is stable in HICs, the rising proportion of familial RB is notable.
- This shift suggests an increasing hereditary contribution to the overall RB disease burden.
- These findings have significant implications for genetic counseling and the development of targeted surveillance strategies for hereditary retinoblastoma.
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