Retinoblastoma in children: a case series from Senegal

Abstract

Retinoblastoma is the most common tumor of the eye in Senegalese children. Diagnosis occurs often at a late stage, when enucleation is unavoidable. In this report, we describe all recorded cases occurring in Senegal over a 10-year period (2005–14). For the 106 cases clinically and radiological identified, the mean age at diagnosis was 30 months (2 months / 10 years). Leucocoria (74.6%) and exophthalmos (42.3%) were common signs of the disease. For the 67 cases identified through patient-file examination, extra-ocular forms were present in 30% of cases at the time of diagnosis and retinal detachment in 19% of cases. Chemotherapy and surgery were the only available therapeutic methods. Overall survival at 5 years was 70%. Retinoblastoma is a serious illness that threatens the lives and sight of affected children. There are about 10 cases per year in Senegal. Management can be enhanced by improving existing technical platforms and training medical staff.

Managing Retinoblastoma at a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Kaduna, Nigeria - A Five Year Retrospective Cohort Review

“…In this retrospective case series the mean age at presentation was 24 months, which is similar to reports from Nigeria and other developing countries where majority present in the third year of life [19][20][21][22]. This is older than age of presentation in developed countries and could be attributed to economic disparities between different regions of the world.…”