A 10-Year Retrospective Study on the Presentation, Treatment, and Outcomes of Retinoblastoma Patients in a Philippine Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Objective: This study reported the demographic profile, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of retinoblastoma (RB) patients seen at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) from January 2011 to December 2020.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study. Medical records of patients diagnosed with RB at JRRMMC from January 2011 to December 2020 were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the participants.

Results: A total of 31 confirmed RB cases were seen, with almost half residing outside Metro Manila (52%). The median age at diagnosis was 2 years, with a slight male predominance (55%). Majority (81%) of patients had unilateral presentation, with leukocoria as the most common sign (19%) prompting consult. Nearly half (43%) of 37 eyes were diagnosed as Group E using the International Classification of Retinoblastoma (ICRB) system. Majority were in the advanced stage; 57% of eyes underwent enucleation and 29, 3 and 3% of patients required additional treatments such as chemotherapy, laser, and radiotherapy, respectively. RB was confirmed in 20 eyes (54%) through histopathology. Survival outcomes showed that 4 patients (13%) were alive, with either completed or ongoing treatment, and 19 (61%) did not complete prescribed management or were lost to follow-up. There were 8 (26%) known deaths.

Conclusion: Majority of cases were unilateral and at an advanced stage needing enucleation which may indicate low levels of awareness and screening efforts. Survival rates are difficult to ascertain due to patients abandoning treatment that may be attributed to limited social service support. The study reflects the 10-year data prior to the establishment of a collaborative, multispecialty RB team in the institution and exposes various areas that need to be addressed to improve clinical outcomes.