Abstract
Purpose: There is scarcity of data regarding clinical presentation and outcome of retinoblastoma
patients in India. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical profile of retinoblastoma
patients in a tertiary care hospital in India from 1983 to 2013. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical records of 141 patients with retinoblastoma
registered from 1983 to 2013 at Government Medical College, Nagpur, India, was conducted.
Demographics, clinical features, modes of treatment, and outcome of the patients were
assessed. Results: Majority of patients (81 [57.45%]) presented in the age group of 1–3 years and were
males. One hundred and fourteen patients (80.85%) had unilateral disease, while rare
presentations of trilateral/quadrilateral retinoblastoma were also noted. Proptosis
was seen in 81 (57.45%) patients as presenting symptom. Eighty-nine patients (63.12%)
had locally invasive disease-involving sites. Forty-four patients (31.19%) developed
distant metastasis. Surgical management and external beam radiotherapy were followed
in majority of patients. Trend of increased usage of chemotherapy was seen from the
mid-1990s. One hundred and twelve patients (79.43%) died with the disease. Conclusions: Data from this study show late diagnosis, leading to poor outcome for patients with
advanced retinoblastoma, which is in accordance with data from other developing countries.
Even though management of patients changed in accordance with changing standard of
care over the decade, mortality remained high.
Key words
Advanced stage - changing trend - retinoblastoma
