Journal de la Faculté de Médecine d'Oran (May 2022)
Epidemiological and clinical profiles of retinoblastoma in western Algeria
Abstract
IntroductionRetinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in children. Its global incidence is estimated at 1 out of 15.000 to 20.000 births. The exact incidence of retinoblastoma in Algeria is unknown. It is cited among childhood cancersand thus occupies the 3rd place with 6.3% after leukemias and lymphomas. Its diagnosis is often late. Deaths from the disease are still recorded. This studyaims to document theepidemiological and clinical profile of retinoblastoma in western Algeria.Materials and methodsWe carried out a descriptive retrospective study over a period of 14 years, from March 1st, 2002 to December 31st, 2015. We included all cases of retinoblastoma originating from the western Algerian region, and hospitalized in the pediatric ophthalmology department of Canastel Hospital in Oran. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi2 test for comparing percentages and student’s «t» test for averaging. The survival curves were performed according to the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by a log-Rank test.ResultsWe have diagnosed 140 cases of retinoblastoma, 91 unilateral cases (65%), 48 bilateral cases (34.3%) and one trilateral case (0.7%) with an average of 10 recorded cases / year. The sex ratio M / F = 1.25. The mean age at diagnosis was 26.56 months. 74% of these patients were living in rural areas. Family cases accounted for 8.57%. The telltale signs were leucocoria in 58%, buphthalmia 15%, strabismus in 3rd position with 13.5% followed by orbital cellulitis with 10%. The consultation delay is on average 4.1 months. 97% of unilateral retinoblastomas are diagnosedat stage IV or V and 20% of the eyes of the bilateral are at stages IV or V. Strabimus and leucocoria are associated with a better survival rate than orbital cellulitis and buphtalmia(p=0,018).ConclusionThe clinical profile of retinoblastoma in western Algeria is similar to that of developing countries, including Maghreb. The diagnosis is often late due to lack of screening and ignorance of the early telltale signs of the disease. More efforts should be focused on popularizing the earliest signs of the disease in the general population but also among primary health care physicians.
