The Incidence of Retinoblastoma in South Africa: Findings from the South African National Cancer Registry (2004–2018)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the frequency and incidence rate of retinoblastoma in children in South Africa from 2004 to 2018. Methods Incident cases of histologically diagnosed retinoblastoma were identified from the South African National Cancer Registry. Crude incidence rates were calculated using national population data on children <15 years and live births. Incidence rates were stratified and compared by age, sex and population group. Direct age-standardised incidence rates and comparative incidence ratios were calculated. Results The overall age-standardised incidence rate for children <15 years was 3.3 per million or 1 per 21 641 live births. Age-specific rates for children aged 0–4, 5–9 and 10–14 years were 7.7, 0.8 and 0.2 per million, respectively. There was no difference in incidence rates by sex. White children had a significantly higher incidence rate compared to other population groups, but this finding may be due to systemic biases introduced by access to healthcare in South Africa or study methodology. Conclusion This is the largest study to provide population-based, histologically confirmed national estimates of retinoblastoma incidence from an African nation to date and affirms the need for high-quality cancer registries across the African continent.