ABSTRACT
Objective. To evaluate compliance to treatment in advanced retinoblastoma. Methods. This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients of retinoblastoma registered at our cancer center from June 2003-February 2007 to study compliance. Results. Sociodemographic data of 177 patients revealed rural:urban ratio of 2:1, median age 36 months (unilateral disease) and 24 months (bilateral disease); median symptom duration 7.2 months. Overall, 84/141 evalued cases took adequate therapy; follow-up could be achieved in 67/141 (47.5%) cases in comparison to 92.4% in Hodgkin’s lymphoma (p=0.001), 62.8% in acute myeloid leukemia (p=0.036) and 72.7% in non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (p=0.001). There was no significant impact of any sociodemographic factors on compliance. Amongst those offered enucleation upfront for intraocular disease, it was accepted in 86/93 (92.5%) eyes. Conclusions. This is one of the largest studies in relation to sociodemographic factors and clinical spectrum, and the only study from Asia evaluating compliance with recommended therapy in retinoblastoma. In order to improve ocular and patient salvage rates in Asian countries, exact causes for poor compliance in retinoblastoma need to be closely examined through a prospective study.