BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the outcome of retinoblastoma patients, when employing a telemedicine-based twinning program in Jordan. PROCEDURE: This cohort study included patients at the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC; Amman, Jordan) who received consultations for retinoblastoma from March 2003 to September 2006. A collaborative program was established with the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Cases were discussed using an Internet consultation service where fundus images, clinical history, and proposed treatment were reviewed. Selected cases were further discussed via videoconferencing and electronic mail. RESULTS: Thirty-three children with retinoblastoma (20 bilateral) were treated at KHCC. The median age at diagnosis was 7 months for patients with bilateral retinoblastoma and 35 months for patients with unilateral retinoblastoma. Of the 20 patients with bilateral disease, 12 were newly diagnosed and 8 had received prior treatment. Our success in the bilateral cases was most evident in the previously untreated group, in which only six eyes (25%) were enucleated and four eyes (17%) were irradiated. Of the 13 patients with unilateral retinoblastoma, 12 underwent enucleation, and 6 required radiation. Neither group experienced mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Twinning has positively impacted survival and ocular salvage in Jordan. By partnering a team of professionals with mentors willing to provide close supervision, the highly specialized management of retinoblastoma can be successfully implemented in a developing country.
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the outcome of retinoblastomapatients, when employing a telemedicine-based twinning program in Jordan. PROCEDURE: This cohort study included patients at the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC; Amman, Jordan) who received consultations for retinoblastoma from March 2003 to September 2006. A collaborative program was established with the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Cases were discussed using an Internet consultation service where fundus images, clinical history, and proposed treatment were reviewed. Selected cases were further discussed via videoconferencing and electronic mail. RESULTS: Thirty-three children with retinoblastoma (20 bilateral) were treated at KHCC. The median age at diagnosis was 7 months for patients with bilateral retinoblastoma and 35 months for patients with unilateral retinoblastoma. Of the 20 patients with bilateral disease, 12 were newly diagnosed and 8 had received prior treatment. Our success in the bilateral cases was most evident in the previously untreated group, in which only six eyes (25%) were enucleated and four eyes (17%) were irradiated. Of the 13 patients with unilateral retinoblastoma, 12 underwent enucleation, and 6 required radiation. Neither group experienced mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Twinning has positively impacted survival and ocular salvage in Jordan. By partnering a team of professionals with mentors willing to provide close supervision, the highly specialized management of retinoblastoma can be successfully implemented in a developing country.
Authors: Mohammad H Abu Arja; Joseph R Stanek; Andrés E Morales La Madrid; Alvaro Lassaletta; Ute Bartels; Ibrahim Qaddoumi; Jonathan L Finlay; Diana S Osorio Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2018-11-14 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Iyad Sultan; Matthew W Wilson; Ibrahim Nawaiseh; Mustafa Mehyar; Saamir Kharma; Mohammed Al-Qudimat; Ribhi Hazin; Arwa Alalami; Imad Jaradat; Maysa Al-Husseini; Ghadeer Abdeen; Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo; Ibrahim Qaddoumi Journal: Int Ophthalmol Date: 2010-04-28 Impact factor: 2.031
Authors: Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo; Mathew W Wilson; Guillermo Chantada; Ligia Fu; Ibrahim Qaddoumi; Célia Antoneli; Carlos Leal-Leal; Tarun Sharma; Margarita Barnoya; Sidnei Epelman; Louis Pizzarello; Javier R Kane; Ray Barfield; Thomas E Merchant; Leslie L Robison; A Linn Murphree; Patricia Chevez-Barrios; Michael A Dyer; Joan O'Brien; Raul C Ribeiro; John Hungerford; Eugene M Helveston; Barrett G Haik; Judith Wilimas Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Helen Dimaras; Timothy W Corson; David Cobrinik; Abby White; Junyang Zhao; Francis L Munier; David H Abramson; Carol L Shields; Guillermo L Chantada; Festus Njuguna; Brenda L Gallie Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2015-08-27 Impact factor: 52.329
Authors: Judith A Wilimas; Matthew W Wilson; Barrett G Haik; Margarita Barnoya; Ligia Fu; Mauricio Castellanos; Miguel Bonilla; Blanca Phillips; Eugene M Helveston; Sandra Luna-Fineman; Raul Ribeiro; Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2009-07 Impact factor: 3.167