Publications

Global retinoblastoma survival and globe preservation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of associations with socioeconomic and health-care factors

Author: Wong et al.
Year of publication: 2022
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates trends in global retinoblastoma survival and globe preservation during the past 40 years. The review included 314 studies, 38 130 patients from 80 regions globally presenting during 1980–2020. 255 articles were entered for time-trend meta-analysis, covering 29 106 patients from 73 countries. Both overall survival (from 79% [95% CI 74–84] to 88% [83–93]; p=0·017) and globe salvage rate (from 22% [14–32] to 44% [36–52]; p=0·0003) improved significantly over the four decades. Wide disparities were observed between higher-income and lower-income countries. Overall survival, globe salvage, and globe salvage for advanced intraocular disease correlated positively with income level. Higher overall survival was associated with lower Gini index (p=0·0001) and with populations that had smaller percentages living in rural areas (p=0·0005). Higher globe salvage was associated with better health-care financing and accessibility (p=0·030). Overall survival (p=0·0024) and globe salvage (p=0·022) were both associated positively with education level. Survival gaps were observed in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast and southwest Asia. In conclusion, retinoblastoma treatment outcomes have improved globally over the past four decades but large disparities persist between higher-income and lower-income countries, with some areas having major survival gaps. Targeted health-care policy making with increased health-care financing and accessibility are needed in low-income and lower-middle-income countries to improve retinoblastoma outcomes worldwide.

From the Publications Archives

Lag Time between Onset of First Symptom and Treatment of Retinoblastoma: An International Collaborative Study of 692 Patients from 10 Countries

Author: Kaliki et al.
Year of publication: 2021

 In this prospective study of 692 patients from 11 retinoblastoma (RB) centres, Kaliki et al. studied the effect of lag time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of RB in these countries based on their national income and analyzed its…

Sex, gender, and retinoblastoma: analysis of 4351 patients from 153 countries

Author: Fabian et al.
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: Eye

  This is a cross-sectional analysis including 4351 treatment-naive retinoblastoma patients from 153 countries. The goal of the study was to investigate whether sex predilection exists for this childhood eye cancer. For the entire sample, the mean retinoblastoma sex ratio,…

A ten-year study of Retinoblastoma in Uganda: An approach to improving outcome with limited resources

Author: Waddell et al.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: Cancer Epidemiology

This is a prospective study documenting a series of children with RB treated at Ruharo Eye Centre between December 2009 and November 2019. Survival by stage of RB, number of eyes affected, and visual acuity were assessed. The study found…

Fundal Reflex Test

Author: Andrew Blaikie
Year of publication: 2021

As part of the University of St Andrews Arclight Project Social Enterprise, a number of instructional videos were developed including how to perform and interpret the fundal (aka ‘red’) reflex test – https://youtu.be/wCdbRxsWa6U. This test can help identify childhood eye…

How Telemedicine and Centralized Care Changed the Natural History of Retinoblastoma in a Developing Country: Analysis of 478 Patients

Author: Yousef et al.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: Ophthalmology

The Yousef et al. study has reviewed the outcomes of 478 retinoblastoma patients who were treated at King Hussein Cancer Centre after implementing a telemedicine-based eye salvage program with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and compared that with outcomes for…

Tumor Board Conferences for Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Management: A Survey of US Cancer Centers

Author: Mori et al.
Year of publication: 2018
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Mori et al. have administered a cross-sectional online survey to physician leaders of 59 skin cancer tumor board conferences (TBCs) at NCI-designated Comprehensive and Clinical Cancer Centers. A total of 38 physicians (72%) completed the survey. Half of the meeting…

Intravitreal melphalan as salvage therapy for refractory retinal and subretinal retinoblastoma

Author: Francis et al.
Year of publication: 2016
Journal: Retinal Cases and Brief Reports

A case series of three patients by Francis et al. has investigated the response and toxicity of intravitreal melphalan treatment for non-vitreous retinoblastoma that was refractory to multiple-course ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC). Patients Three eyes received a median of 7…

Development of a pediatric ophthalmology academic partnership between Canada and Ethiopia: a situational analysis

Author: Kletke et al.
Year of publication: 2020
Journal: BMC Medical Education

The aim of this situational analysis was to assess the feasibility of implementing a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at Addis Ababa University with support from the University of Toronto, modeled by successful postgraduate medical education within Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration….

The Recognition of Cavitary Retinoblastoma Tumors- Implications for Management and Genetic Analysis

Author: Chaudhry et al.
Year of publication: 2018
Journal: Retina

The Chaudhry et al. study has assessed the role of consolidating adjuvant therapy and the phenotype-genotype correlation in patients with retinoblastomas having ophthalmoscopically visible cavities between 2004 and 2014 in whom 4 to 6 cycles of systemic chemotherapy were given….