Retinoblastoma management during the COVID-19 pandemic: a report by the
Global Retinoblastoma Study Group including 194 centers from 94
countries
Abstract
Background The Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), evolving into a
pandemic, resulted in medical resources being shifted to crisis
management. Anecdotal evidence suggests that treatment of
retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, is compromised by
policy changes during the pandemic, risking children’s lives. Procedure
The Global Retinoblastoma Study Group that comprises most retinoblastoma
treatment centers across the world conducted a survey focusing on the
impact of COVID-19 on retinoblastoma management from March 29 to April 4
2020. Data on COVID-19, including number of positive cases and reported
deaths, in the same period were retrieved from the World Health
Organization. Results Overall, 194 retinoblastoma centers from 94
countries and 6 continents representing nearly half of the estimated
global annual incidence of retinoblastoma participated. As of April 4
2020, the number of COVID-19 positive patients and reported deaths in
the participating countries were 1,165,380 and 63,720, respectively,
representing over 95% of the global burden. Forty-two percent of the
centers reported that families were restricted from travelling to them,
and 38% reported disruption to retinoblastoma management from shortage
or reallocation of personnel or equipment. Enucleation was still
available in 90% and intravenous chemotherapy in 97% of the centers,
but 54% of them reported that changes and restrictions outside or
within the center were potentially affecting the lives of retinoblastoma
patients. Conclusions Shift in health care resources and pandemic
policies at a national level may be hazardous for children with
retinoblastoma.