DOI: 10.36347/sasjs.2021.v07i12.012

Pages: 798-802

Background: Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy of childhood and remains a major cause of ocular morbidity and mortality in developing countries due to delayed presentation and limited access to specialized care. Early recognition of clinical features and appropriate treatment strategies are crucial for improving survival and ocular outcomes. Methods: This hospital-based descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from April 2011 to March 2013. A total of 46 children clinically diagnosed with retinoblastoma were included. Patients with other ocular diseases or incomplete medical records were excluded. Data regarding demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, tumor stage, laterality and treatment modalities were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The majority of patients presented between 1 and 3 years of age (56.5%), with a slight male predominance (56.5%). Leukocoria was the most common presenting feature, observed in 69.6% of cases, followed by leukocoria with proptosis (15.2%). Most patients were diagnosed at Stage II (60.9%), while Stage I and Stage III accounted for 19.6% each; no Stage IV disease was identified. Unilateral involvement was more frequent (71.7%) than bilateral disease (28.3%). Enucleation combined with radiotherapy was the most commonly employed treatment (26.1%), followed by enucleation alone (21.7%) and chemotherapy (19.6%). A small proportion of patients (6.5%) were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Retinoblastoma in this cohort predominantly presented in early childhood with leukocoria and unilateral disease. Most patients were diagnosed at a moderately advanced intraocular stage, necessitating combined treatment approaches. Strengthening early detection and referral systems may further improve outcomes.