DR. SAMEEKSHA TADEPALLI

DR. USHA SINGH, DR. URMILA KUMARI, DR. BYANJANA BASHYAL

Abstract

Purpose- To study the demography, clinical presentation, treatment and its delay in children with extraocular Retinoblastoma(EORB) during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods- Retrospective chart review of EORB patients presenting between December 2019 to May 2021. Results- Total 32 pts presented (mean age 45 months). Delayed presentation was noted in 17 (53%), reasons being COVID-19 lockdown(19%), misdiagnosis(16%) and family-related issues(21%). It was unilateral in 30 and bilateral in 2. Presenting symptoms were leukocoria(56%), proptosis(26%) and mass over eye(12%). Imaging revealed overt orbital disease(56%), optic nerve extension(68%) and intra cranial disease(15%). Treatment included chemotherapy in 19, radiotherapy in 9 and enucleation in 15 eyes. Patients defaulted during treatment(8) and follow up(14) during this period. Pandemic fear, travel restrictions and socio-economic issues caused delays in presentation, treatment and compliance leading to advanced disease.