Clinical Presentations, Three Years Survival Rate and Associated Factors among Children with Retinoblastoma in Northern Tanzania

Background: Retinoblastoma RB is the most common intraocular tumor of childhood and second most common intraocular malignancy of all age groups. Is curable and the most important objective in the management is survival of the children. Untreated or neglected cases are almost fatal and can spread extra ocular through the optic nerve and sclera. Objective: To estimate three years survival rate and associated factors among children with retinoblastoma treated at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center from 2017-2019. Method: This was a retrospective study. Consecutive non probability sampling technique were used. The study included all children treated at KCMC with diagnosis of retinoblastoma between 1st of January 2017 and 31st of December 2019. Data ware analyzed by using STATA version 17- and three-years survival rate was calculated by Kaplan– Meier method and cox regression analysis used to analyze associated factors. Result: The overall survival rate was (70.2%). The most common presenting sign was leukocoria (74.3%), lag-time of >6 months, extraocular disease and bilateral presentation were predictors factor associated with poor survival rate. In multivariate analysis long lag-time of >6 months was statistically significant as independent factor for poor survival rate. Conclusion: The cumulative 3-years survival rate was low compared to the developed countries, the commonest clinical presenting sign was leukocoria followed by proptosis, lag-time >6 months was statistically significant associated with poor survival rate.