Sociodemographic, clinical, epidemiological and care aspects of children and adolescents treated for retinoblastoma in Brazil: a cross-sectional study / Aspectos sociodemográficos, clínicos, epidemiológicos e assistenciais de crianças e adolescentes atendidos por retinoblastoma no Brasil: estudo transversal

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Retinoblastoma greatly impacts the affected children and adolescents and their families. Epidemiological approaches to this form of cancer in Brazil are scarce, and this gap motivated this study. Objectives:This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic, clinical, epidemiological, and care characteristics of children and adolescents treated for retinoblastoma in Brazil and analyze whether there is any association between them. Methods: It is a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study, carried out with accompanying family members of children and adolescents treated for retinoblastoma in Brazil, sampled by snowball sampling, via a web survey, based on a semi-structured questionnaire elaborated by the authors, shared on social media. Results: The children and adolescents were represented by 129 accompanying family members from the five largest regions of Brazil. Low education level, housewifery, and low family income were associated with exclusive care provided by the Unified Health System, while low family income was associated with the use of ocular prosthesis post retinoblastoma. Conclusion: The identified odds ratio indicated the importance of family members' sociodemographic aspects for the clinical, epidemiological and care outcomes of the children and adolescents treated. Public healthcare services were the most used for oncology care, which endorses the relevance of the Unified Health System for children, adolescents, and their family members who have been impacted by retinoblastoma in the country. (AU)

RESUMO: Introdução: O retinoblastoma impacta sobremaneira as crianças, adolescentes e familiares acometidos. Abordagens epidemiológicas sobre tal câncer no Brasil são escassas, lacuna esta que motivou este trabalho. Objetivos: Os objetivos desse estudo foram descrever as características sociodemográficas, clínicas, epidemiológicas e assistenciais de crianças e adolescentes atendidos por retinoblastoma no Brasil e analisar se existe associação entre tais características. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo-analítico, realizado com acompanhantes familiares de crianças e adolescentes atendidos por retinoblastoma no Brasil, amostrados por snowball sampling, via web survey, a partir de um roteiro autoral semiestruturado, compartilhado em mídias sociais. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial, com o auxílio do software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Resultados: As crianças e os adolescentes foram retratados por 129 acompanhantes familiares das cinco grandes regiões brasileiras. A escolaridade baixa, a ocupação do lar e a baixa renda familiar dos respondentes associaram-se ao atendimento exclusivo pelo Sistema Único de Saúde, sendo que a baixa renda familiar também associou-se ao uso de prótese ocular pós retinoblastoma. Conclusões: As razões de chances identificadas sinalizaram para a importância dos aspectos sociodemográficos dos familiares para os desfechos clínicos-epidemiológicos-assistenciais das crianças e dos adolescentes atendidos. Os serviços públicos foram os mais utilizados para a assistência oncológica, o que endossa a relevância do Sistema Único de Saúde para as crianças, adolescentes e familiares impactados pelo retinoblastoma no país. (AU)

Indications for eye removal over a 13-year period at an ophthalmology referral center in São Paulo, Brazil / Indicações para remoção ocular ao longo de um período de 13 anos no centro de referência oftalmológica em São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT Purpose: To analyze the indications and types of eye removal at Latin America's highest-volume ophthalmic reference center in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of surgical pathological reports in the electronic database of the Ophthalmology Department of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo Hospital of patients who underwent eye-removal procedures between January 2000 and December 2012. Results: A total of 412 cases met the inclusion criteria for this study. The most common indications for eye removal were ocular melanoma and retinoblastoma, representing 35.4% and 31.1% of the total cases, respectively. Other frequent indications included endophthalmitis (6.3%), nonspecific inflammation (4.1%), squamous cell carcinoma (3.6%), panophthalmitis (3.4%), and phthisis bulbi (1.2%). The remaining indications accounted for 14.8% of all cases, with each accounting for <1% of the total cases. Enucleation was the most common eye-removal procedure seen in our study. Conclusions: The two most common indications for eye removal were ocular melanoma and retinoblastoma. Alternative treatment options are effective in limiting the need for eye removal but are constrained by our public center's so cioeconomic context.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os tipos e indicações para a remoção dos olhos no maior centro de referência oftalmológica da América Latina em São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: Revisão retrospectiva de laudos cirúrgico patológico em uma base de dados eletrônica do Departamento de Oftalmologia do Hospital da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Foram analisados pacientes submetidos ao procedimento de remoção oftálmica no período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2012. Resultados: Um total de 412 casos estiveram de acordo com os critérios de inclusão desse estudo. A indicação mais comum para remoção oftálmica foi Melanoma ocular e Retinoblastoma, representando, respectivamente, 35,4% e 31,1% do total de casos. Outras indicações frequentes incluíam Endoftalmite 6,3%, Inflamação inespecífica 4,1%, Carcinoma escamocelular 3,6%, Panoftalmite 3,4% e Phthisis Bulbi 1,2%. O restante das indicações totalizaram 14,8% de todos os casos, sendo que cada um correspondem com menos de 1% do total. Enucleação foi o procedimento de remoção oftálmica mais comum observado em nosso estudo. Conclusão: As duas indicações mais frequentes para remoção oftálmica no centro oftalmológico de referência do Brasil foi melanoma e retinoblastoma. Opções terapêuticas alternativas são efetivas para limitar a necessidade da remoção ocular, porém são restritos devido ao contexto socioeconômico de nossa população.

Blood flow velocity in monocular retinoblastoma assessed by color doppler

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the flow of retrobulbar vessels in retinoblastoma by color Doppler imaging. METHODS: A prospective study of monocular retinoblastoma treated by enucleation between 2010 and 2014. The examination comprised fundoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and color Doppler imaging. The peak blood velocities in the central retinal artery and central retinal vein of tumor-containing eyes (tuCRAv and tuCRVv, respectively) were assessed. The velocities were compared with those for normal eyes (nlCRAv and nlCRVv) and correlated with clinical and pathological findings. Tumor dimensions in the pathological sections were compared with those in magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography and were correlated with tuCRAv and tuCRVv. In tumor-containing eyes, the resistivity index in the central retinal artery and the pulse index in the central retinal vein were studied in relation to all variables. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included. Comparisons between tuCRAv and nlCRAv and between tuCRVv and nlCRVv revealed higher velocities in tumor-containing eyes (p <0.001 for both), with a greater effect in the central retinal artery than in the central retinal vein (p =0.024). Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography measurements were as reliable as pathology assessments (p =0.675 and p =0.375, respectively). A positive relationship was found between tuCRAv and the tumor volume (p =0.027). The pulse index in the central retinal vein was lower in male patients (p =0.017) and in eyes with optic nerve invasion (p =0.0088). CONCLUSIONS: TuCRAv and tuCRVv are higher in tumor-containing eyes than in normal eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography measurements are reliable. The tumor volume is correlated with a higher tuCRAv and a reduced pulse in the central retinal vein is correlated with male sex and optic nerve invasion.