A U Mukhtar1, K Kagame. 1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P O Box 1410, Uganda.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Histological study of retinoblastoma: cellular differentiation, optic nerve and choroidal involvement. DESIGN: Series of specimens examined in the Pathology laboratory. SETTING: Department of Pathology, Mbarara University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) and Ruharo Eye Centre, Mbarara. SUBJECTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
OBJECTIVE: Histological study of retinoblastoma: cellular differentiation, optic nerve and choroidal involvement. DESIGN: Series of specimens examined in the Pathology laboratory. SETTING: Department of Pathology, Mbarara University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) and Ruharo Eye Centre, Mbarara. SUBJECTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.