30 YEARS OF RETINOBLASTOMA (1960-89) - CHANGING PATTERNS OF INCIDENCE

This study of a 30-year population-based dataset. investigates further an earlier observation that the incidence of sporadic bilateral retin oblastoma appeared to be increasing in recent years in the West Midlan ds Health Authority Region (WMHAR). Stringent measures were applied to ensure complete ascertainment of all cases of retinoblastoma in child ren in the region, resulting in a total of 117 cases diagnosed during the period 1960-89 in the WMHAR. Hospital case notes were abstracted a nd follow-up data obtained. Incidence rates were calculated. The overa ll incidence remained constant over the 30-year period, but that of sp oradic bilateral tumours increased, with a corresponding decline in fa milial cases. There was a statistically significant excess seen in Asi an children.