title: Retinoblastoma in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: The objective was to assess epidemiologic aspects of retinoblastoma development in Karachi, Pakistan. Incident cases, diagnosed clinically or microscopically and registered at Karachi Cancer Registry (KCR) during 1(st)January 1998 to 31(st) December 2002 were reabstracted, rechecked and reanalyzed for this purpose. One hundred and one cases of retinoblastoma were reported to KCR over the 5 years (1998-2002). Fifty-seven were residents of Karachi, 34 (59.6%) males and 23 (40.4%) females. The gender ratio (M:F) was 1.5. The mean age at diagnosis was 3.96 years (95% CI 2.92; 4.99) and 3.85 years (95% CI 2.72; 4.98) in males and females respectively. The annual crude incidence of retinoblastomas in Karachi was 4.0/100,000 and 2.4/100,000 in children under the age of 5 and 10 years respectively, the corresponding age standardized rates being 5.3/100,000 and 4.8/100,000. The age groups at risk of developing retinoblastoma, associated morbidity and possibility of almost 100% 5-year survival with available treatments, calls for ophthalmologic screening of all infants below 1 year, and high-risk children until the age of 7 years. In order to detect retinoblastoma, as early as possible, health education for parents and health providers, and improved training of ophthalmologists is essential. Genetic testing for siblings and children of retinoblastoma cases and identification of high-risk children would be helpful, but lacks financial feasibility in developing countries at present. Future health care planning should focus on capacity building for neonatal ophthalmologic screening, handling of parents'and children'emotional reactions and opportunities for education, occupational training and cosmetic rehabilitation for surviving retinoblastoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Karachi Cancer Registry, Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Sindh Medical College, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. yburgri@akunet.org
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bhurgri
authors.forename: Suhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muzaffar
authors.forename: Rashida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Nafees
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhurgri
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Faridi
authors.forename: Jawaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Liaquat Ali G
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Imtiaz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: Naila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kayani
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhurgri
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pervez
authors.forename: Sheema H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Akber Haider
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Soomro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014505:Urban Population