Clinical misdiagnosis of retinoblastoma in Indian children

Pseudoretinoblastoma: Distribution based on gender, age, and laterality

PURPOSE

To investigate the distribution of pseudoretinoblastoma (PSRB) cases based on gender, age, and laterality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical records of 607 patients (851 eyes) who were referred for diagnosis of retinoblastoma or simulating conditions between October 1998 and May 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were stratified by age as follows: ≤1 year, >1-3 years, >3-5 years, and >5 years.

RESULTS

Of 190/607 PSRB patients, 129 (67.9%) were males and 61 (32.1%) females (p = 0.001). The 3 most common diagnoses in males were Coats disease (20.2%), persistent fetal vasculature (PFV, 14.0%), and chorioretinal coloboma (6.2%). In females, the 3 most common diagnoses included PFV (21.3%), retinal dysplasia, congenital glaucoma, and combined hamartoma (each 6.6%). PFV was the most common diagnosis in ≤1 year old patient group (26.6%). Coats disease and PFV were the most common diagnoses in >1-3 years old patient group (each 16.7%). Coats disease was the most common diagnosis in >3-5 years old (30.8%) and >5 years old patient groups (13.1%). PSRBs were unilateral in 121/190 (63.7%) patients. Coats disease usually presented unilaterally (p < 0.001) while PFV, optic nerve head drusen, and retinopathy of prematurity as bilateral diseases (p = 0.019, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001 respectively).

DISCUSSION

PSRB diagnoses show differences depending on gender, age, and laterality. In our study, the most common PSRB lesions were Coats disease in males and PFV in females. PFV was the most frequent diagnosis in ≤3 years and Coats disease in >3 years of age groups. Coats disease and PFV were the most common unilateral and bilateral PSRB diagnoses respectively.

The Final Diagnosis: Retinoblastoma or Pseudoretinoblastoma

PURPOSE

To review the authors' experience in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma and to explore the frequency of intraocular conditions that mimic this malignancy according to patient age at presentation.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study including 549 patients (769 eyes) who were referred for confirmation and/or management of retinoblastoma between October 1998 and June 2019 at a single tertiary center. A detailed ocular examination was done by the same ocular oncologist under general anesthesia for every patient.

RESULTS

Of 549 patients referred for diagnostic confirmation or management of retinoblastoma, 393 (71.6%) patients were found to have retinoblastoma and 156 (28.4%) patients received the diagnosis of pseudoretinoblastoma. The mean patient age at presentation was 52.1 months, ranging from 1 to 276 months. The most common diagnoses among patients with pseudoretinoblastoma younger than 1 year were persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) (n = 19; 28.8%), Coats disease (n = 7; 10.6%), chorioretinal coloboma (n = 4; 6.1%), retinal dysplasia (n = 4; 6.1%), and retinal detachment (n = 4; 6.1%). In patients with pseudoretinoblastoma who were 1 to 5 years old, the most common diagnoses were Coats disease (n = 10; 25.6%), PFV (n = 7; 17.9%), and optic disc hypoplasia (n = 3; 7.7%). Patients older than 5 years were most likely to have Coats disease (n = 8; 15.7%), optic disc drusen (n = 5; 9.8%), retinopathy of prematurity (n = 4; 7.8%), and combined hamartoma (n = 4; 7.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that 28.4% of patients referred for suspicion or management of retinoblastoma were classified as having pseudoretinoblastoma. The most common conditions causing diagnostic confusion with retinoblastoma included PFV and Coats disease, similar to previous publications from both high-and low-income countries. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021;58(3):161-167.].

Clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of children with unilateral retinoblastoma and intracranial segment of Retrobulbar optic nerve invasion

Background

To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of children with unilateral retinoblastoma (RB) and intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion.

Methods

A total of 14 children with unilateral RB and intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion were enrolled in this retrospective study from January 2009 to December 2018. Clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Of 14 cases, there were 7 male and 7 female, ranging in age from 22.85 to 121.97 months (median, 41.03 months). Seventy-one percent of patients came from first-tier cities in China and effected in the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results indicated that all patients presented with thickened and enhanced optic nerve and intracranial segment of optic nerve invasion. Nine patients received comprehensive therapeutic regimen (chemotherapy, eye enucleation, radiotherapy and intrathecal therapy). The patients were followed up to December 2019, with a median follow-up of 20.6 months. The median disease specific survival was 48.99 ± 8.62 months, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 64.3%. Radiotherapy and comprehensive therapeutic regimen had significant impact on survival time (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The overall prognosis of unilateral RB patients with intracranial segment of retrobulbar optic nerve invasion was poor. Chemotherapy and surgical treatment were necessary, but more attention should be paid to radiotherapy and intrathecal therapy for improving prognosis.

Quality of life in children with retinoblastoma after enucleation in China

OBJECTIVE

To study the quality of life of Chinese pediatric patients with retinoblastoma (RB) after enucleation and the influencing factors.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was performed on 71 cases of pediatric patients with RB after enucleation and 80 cases of healthy children, using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL™ 4.0).

RESULTS

The social dimension scores, school dimension scores, and total scores for the PedsQL™ 4.0 among the pediatric patients with RB were statistically significantly lower than those of healthy children. The influencing factors were unilateral/bilateral affected eyes, diagnosis age, and ocular prosthesis satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Early discovery, timely treatment, increased eye salvage rate, and cosmetic effects of ocular prosthesis were key factors for increasing the quality of life of pediatric patients with RB. Attention should be paid to the health, social, and school development of pediatric patients with RB.

Retinoblastoma in Chinese Children Aged Five to Fourteen Years

OBJECTIVE

To assess the characteristics of retinoblastomas enucleated from Chinese children aged 5-14 years.

METHODS

This retrospective hospital-based study included all eyes with retinoblastomas consecutively enucleated in the Beijing Tongren Hospital between August 2003 and July 2013.

RESULTS

Out of 1,205 patients, 47 (3.9%) were 5 years or older. All tumors in this age group occurred unilaterally, the patients had a negative family history, and the tumors were detected at an age of 6.9 ± 1.8 years (range: 5-14). The main clinical features at the time of examining the as yet untreated children aged 5-7 years (n = 30) or >7-14 years (n = 10) were leukocoria, strabismus, pseudohypopyon, hypertension, vitreous seeds ('snowballs'), and calcifications. In 12 patients (26%), the retinoblastoma had not initially been diagnosed as a tumor. Histopathology revealed tumor invasion into nonretinal tissue in 19 eyes (40%). Therapy included enucleation only (n = 22; 47%), adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (n = 24; 51%), and additional orbital exenteration (n = 1). After a mean follow-up of 3.0 ± 2.1 years (range: 0.2-9.8), which was done for 40 children, none of these children showed a tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the children undergoing enucleation for retinoblastoma in Beijing, 3.9% were aged 5 years or more. As in Western countries, the tumor occurrence was unilateral, their family history was negative, and the survival rate was relatively high in these children. In 1 out of 4 children, the tumor had initially been misdiagnosed due to a masquerade syndrome. Retinoblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any unclear intraocular situation in children.