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

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.

Keywords: National Cancer Registry; Retinoblastoma; South Africa; epidemiology; incidence.