Abstract
Purpose :
Fundus screening plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases; however, its efficacy in detecting retinoblastoma remains uncertain. This study seeks to assess the influence of fundus screening on the survival of patients with retinoblastoma.
Methods :
We conducted a retrospective review and analysis of the medical records of consecutive retinoblastoma patients from multiple centers between 2006 and 2022. Patients who received fundus screening were categorized into three groups based on the screening purpose: the primary group, the consult group, and the referral group.
Results :
Out of 3457 children diagnosed with retinoblastoma, only 254 (7.32%) were identified through fundus screening. When categorized by the purpose of the screening, 136 (53.5%) children were in the primary group, 88 (34.6%) were in the consult group, and 30 (11.8%) were in the referral group. Children in the consult group exhibited the highest proportion of late-stage IIRC (D and E, 84.3%) in comparison to those in the primary group (56.2%) and the referral group (47.5%). In addition, children in the primary group had a significantly higher survival rate than those in the consult group (95.5% vs. 78.5%, P = 0.004). The rate of family history was highest among patients in the primary group, at 13.2%, as compared to those in the consult group (3.4%) and the referral group (6.67%).
Conclusions :
Greater emphasis should be placed on primary fundus screening, as it offers significant advantages in the early diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma. We advocate for widespread and early fundus screening for children, particularly for those with a family history of retinoblastoma.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.