Pathological study of retinoblastoma in Mbarara, Uganda.
OBJECTIVE
Histological study of retinoblastoma: cellular differentiation, optic nerve and choroidal involvement.


METHODS
Series of specimens examined in the Pathology laboratory.


METHODS
Department of Pathology, Mbarara University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) and Ruharo Eye Centre, Mbarara.


METHODS
32 eye specimens.


RESULTS
31 specimens consisted of poorly differentiated tumours and one specimen had a well differentiated retinoblastoma showing Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes. Fifteen out of 25 specimens with optic nerves showed both choroid and optic nerve invasion. In 10 eye specimens, the optic nerves and choroid were free of tumour. In the remaining seven specimens, the optic nerves were not submitted with the enucleated specimens and there was no choroidal involvement on histology.


CONCLUSIONS
This review supports findings from previous studies done in Africa which indicated that poorly differentiated retinoblastoma is more common among African children than well differentiated retinoblastoma.
Mukhtar
A U
AU
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P O Box 1410, Uganda.
Kagame
K
K
D000359:Aftercare; D001706:Biopsy; D044383:Black People; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010784:Photomicrography; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology