Retinoblastoma remains the most common primary intraocular malignancy of infancy and childhood.1

It is a tumour of primitive neuroectodermal tissue mainly from the nuclear layers of the retina.2 Most retinoblastoma are composed of undifferentiated cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and very scanty cytoplasm and a high mitotic rate.

Studies have evaluated histological factors that affect the prognosis of retinoblastoma.3 4 Such parameters include growth pattern, the degree of differentiation, the presence of necrosis, rosettes, extension into the anterior chamber, invasion of the optic nerve and choroids. The most important prognostic finding from such previous studies was the extent of optic nerve involvement.

We reviewed the experience of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, on the histopathological profiles associated with fatal outcome among cases of retinoblastoma seen in the Eye Clinic of the hospital.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients with a histological diagnosis of retinoblastoma from January 1981 to January 2005 at the Eye Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

The charts were reviewed for demographic information and histopathology reports, with …