Epée, Emilienne University Hospital Center of Yaounde, Cameroon , Epée, Emilienne University of Yaoundé I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Ophthalmology, Cameroon , Moukouri, Ernest University Hospital Center of Yaounde, Cameroon , Moukouri, Ernest University of Yaoundé I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Ophthalmology, Cameroon , Koki, Godefroy University of Yaoundé I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Ophthalmology, Cameroon , Pondy, Angèle University of Yaoundé I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Pediatrics, Cameroon , Pondy, Angèle Chantal Biya foundation(CME-FCB) - Mother and Child Center, Cameroon , Mbassi, K University of Yaoundé I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Ophthalmology, Cameroon

Clinical features and prognosis of retinoblastoma at the University Teaching Hospital of Yaounde Cameroon

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PURPOSE / AI.: Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignant tumor of childhood, an important cause of ocular morbidity and mortality. With early detection and new methods of management many affected children can survive, have the affected eyes saved and vision preserved. Nevertheless 90% of retinoblastoma patients live in developing countries with minimal hope for survival. In the current study, we aim at describing the natural history, clinical features, and management and outcome of patientswith retinoblastoma at the University Teaching Hospital in Yaounde Cameroon METHODS. From January 2004 to March 2011, we conducted a prospective and descriptive study including all patients with retinoblastoma received at the university teaching hospital. Variables studied included age of the patients at diagnosis, gender, history of the presenting complaints, mode of presentation, previous treatment, and time interval between diagnosis to surgery, diagnosis before surgery, management. Collected data were analyzed usingMicrosoft Excel 2007 software. RESULTS. Eleven patients had retinoblastoma, 7 males and 4 females a sex ratio of 0.57. The median age at diagnosis was 43,6 ± 22,3 months . Leucocoria and exophthalmia were the common signs observed in 50% and 25% of the casesrespectively. The median lag time was 38 ±67,7 days. Eightpatients were operated and (6)75% underwent enucleation. Three patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Death occurred in 6 cases (75%) within a year after surgery. CONCLUSION. The prognosis of retinoblastoma remains poor due to late presentation. There was no change observed from the situation 10 years ago in all aspect of retinoblastoma in our hospital despite the advances in the field of retinoblastoma. Could education and raising awareness have helped in improving the prognosis?

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Retinoblastoma , childhood cancer , exophthalmia , leucocoria , enucleation

Health Sciences an‎d Diseases

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