Incidence and Characteristics of Retinoblastoma in Poland: The First Nationwide Study 2010-2017

Updated retinoblastoma incidence and outcome in children in Taiwan from 1980 to 2019: a 40-year nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Retinoblastoma is a potentially fatal disease, and its incidence and mortality varies among different countries and periods.

METHODS

This is a nationwide population-based retrospective study from January 1980 to December 2019 in Taiwan. Patients diagnosed as retinoblastoma were identified from the Taiwan National Cancer Registry. To update the literature on retinoblastoma incidence, mortality and trends in Taiwan, we analysed changes in incidence and survival rates over time according to sex, diagnostic age, laterality and treatment.

RESULTS

During 1980-2019, the incidence of retinoblastoma in Taiwan was 1 per 16 489 live births (95% CI: 13 415-19 564). The diagnostic age decreased from 2.21 ± 0.26 during 1980-1984 to 1.24 ± 0.26 during 1985-2019. Compared with that observed during 1980-1989, the incidence rate observed after 1990 increased significantly in children aged <10 years (RR: 1.62-2.40, P = 0.0049 to < 0.0001). From 1980 to 2019, the incidence rate for the 0-4-year age group increased and that for the 5-9-year age group remained constant. The mean diagnostic age for bilateral retinoblastoma (0.36 ± 0.47 years) was significantly less than that for unilateral retinoblastoma (1.37 ± 0.35 years) during 2007-2019 (P < 0.0001). The 10-year survival rate was highest in the enucleation group (89.8%) compared with radiotherapy (52.2%) and others (70.0%; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

During 1980-2019 in Taiwan, the incidence of retinoblastoma increased significantly, and the diagnostic age decreased, which are similar to the ones from other developed countries. However, the survival rate was still lower than that of most developed countries.

Retinoblastoma Incidence in Taiwan Over a Recent 20-Year Period: A Comprehensive Nationwide Study

Purpose

Continuous advancements in medical diagnostic technology and the growing availability of resources suggest a potential for fluctuations in the incidence rate of retinoblastoma (Rb). This study aimed to analyze incidence data of Rb patients in Taiwan from 1999 to 2018, utilizing the nationwide Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) database. Additionally, we investigated the treatment modalities used for these Rb patients and compared them with those observed in other countries.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the TCR database. The study cohort comprised individuals who were newly diagnosed with Rb between 1999 and 2018. The incidence of Rb was calculated as the number of patients with Rb per million live births, both for the entire population and for different gender groups and time periods. The trends in Rb incidence from 1999 to 2018 across various age groups and sexes were presented with the linear trend test.

Results

From 1999 to 2018, a total of 248 cases of Rb were identified. The overall incidence rate over this 20-year period was 60.20 cases per million live births, corresponding to 1 case per 16,611 live births. Incidence rates for each 5-year period between 1999 and 2018 exhibited no significant differences. The study cohort was predominantly male, with 134 cases (54.03%) being males and 114 cases (45.97%) being females, resulting in an overall male-to-female sex ratio of 1.18. Females had lower relative risk than males (RR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.72-1.19). Primary surgical intervention was the preferred treatment modality for over 75% of the cases.

Conclusion

This retrospective epidemiology study, using TCR from 1999 to 2018, indicated that no discernible trend of retinoblastoma incidence in Taiwan. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring of incidence rates and exploration of treatment strategies for retinoblastoma within the Taiwanese population are important to address potential changes in developing medical practices.

Nationwide clinico-epidemiological treatment analysis of adult patients with tumors of cerebellopontine angle and internal acoustic meatus in Poland during 2011-2020

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to report the epidemiologic characteristics of tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPAT) and internal acoustic meatus in adult Polish population throughout the second decade of XXI century and to analyze their treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and internal acoustic meatus tumors diagnosed in Poland in 2011-2020 was performed. Data recorded in the National Health Fund (NHF) database were analyzed. International Classification of Diseases codes (ICD-9 and ICD-10) were used to identify study group patients and treatment procedures.

RESULTS

From 2011 to 2020 6,173 Polish adult patients were diagnosed with cerebellopontine angle and internal acoustic meatus tumors. The average incidence in Poland is 1.99 per 100,000 residents/year. It mostly affects women (61.64%), and the average age of patients is 53.78 years. The incidence has steadily increased over the past decade. Treatment has changed significantly over the years, with a definite increase in the number of patients treated with radiotherapy (from 0.54 to 19.34%), and a decrease in surgical therapies (from 41.67 to 6.8%). The most common symptoms were vertigo and/or dizziness (43.48%) and sensorineural hearing loss (39.58%). 4.65% of patients suffered from sudden deafness, in this group of patients the risk of CPAT detection was the highest (6.25 / 1000 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

The total incidence of CPAT and demographic characteristics of patients were comparable to other studies. Our study demonstrated the increased number of patients are being treated with radiotherapy and fewer with microsurgery. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an uncommon manifestation of CPAT but proper diagnosis should be undertaken because the risk of diagnosis such tumors is greater in this group.

Incidence of retinoblastoma in children and adolescents in Brazil: A population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the incidence of retinoblastoma in children and adolescents in Brazil based on Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR), describing temporal trends and some quality indicators of this registry.

METHODS

Based on secondary data from the PBCR of the National Institute of Cancer (INCA) (2000-2018), by selecting the morphological code of retinoblastoma, the annual incidences per million (0-19 years of age) in each local PBCR were estimated by sex and age group, global combined and by region, in addition to the percentage of diagnosis only by death certificate (DC) or not informed (NI), and the male/female ratio (M/F). An annual incidence trend in the five Brazilian geographic regions was also analyzed using the inflection point regression technique.

RESULTS

675 patients were identified in 28 PBCR, 91% between 0 and 4 years of age. The overall combined incidence per million by age group was: 7.02 (0-4 years old), ranging from 5.25 in the Midwest to 11.26 in the Northeast; 0.46 (5-9 years old); 0.05 (10-14 years old) and 0.03 (15-19 years old). The combined incidence per million, adjusted for the world population, was 2.23 (0-14 years old) and 2.24 (0-19 years old). The DC and NI percentages were 13% and 18%, respectively; the M/F ratio was 1.3. The incidence remained stable throughout the study period, except for the city of São Paulo, where there was a significant reduction of 3.4% per year.

CONCLUSIONS

In Brazil, except for the Northeast region, the incidences of retinoblastoma were lower than those reported in several countries worldwide, suggesting possible underreporting, and the time series analysis showed a stable trend. Although this pioneering study brings a recent panel of available data on retinoblastoma in Brazil, more precise estimates are needed and welcome for better planning of onco-ophthalmologic care in the country.