Retinoblastoma in Albania: A 25-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common intraocular cancer worldwide, has been extensively investigated. To the best of our knowledge, however, no reports exist on RB in Albania. We aimed to present the first case series of RB in Albania, including presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with RB from 1998 to 2023 at a single country Mother Teresa University Hospital Center in Albania. Epidemiologic and clinical data were extracted from follow-up clinical charts. Results: During the 25-year study period, 22 patients were diagnosed with RB, of whom 59% were females. The average age at diagnosis was 21.8 months (SD-18.8 months). In 13 (59%) cases, the disease was diagnosed within the first year of life, and less than 5% were diagnosed after the age of 5 years. Overall, 18% of patients had family history of RB, and 41% had bilateral RB. The time from the first symptom to diagnosis was less than a month in 32% of cases, while 77% of patients were diagnosed within 4 months. The main presenting symptom was leukocoria in 6 (27%) cases, strabismus in 3 (14%) cases, and combination of both in 3 (14%) cases. Treatment was mainly a combination of enucleation and systemic chemotherapy in 15 (71%) cases. Only 13 (59%) patients continued treatment within Albania, with the rest being treated abroad. Conclusion: We present the first cohort of children with RB from Albania, a country with limited diagnostic and treatment resources. The advanced disease states of these children underscore the importance of implementing national pediatric screening programs.