A prospective multicenter study of 1,120 children with retinoblastoma (InPOG-RB-19-01) demonstrated that diagnostic delays significantly influence stage at presentation and outcomes, with a mean lag time of 4.2 months—44% attributable to parental delay (symptom onset to first consultation). Consequently, 25% of patients presented with extraocular or metastatic disease. Socio-economic disadvantage, greater distance from tertiary centers, and initial consultation with non-specialists independently predicted prolonged lag times, whereas higher maternal education was protective.
These findings highlight the urgent need for community awareness initiatives, strengthened referral pathways, and integration of ocular screening into routine pediatric care to enable earlier detection and improve survival in retinoblastoma. To read more, click here How can we cut the 4.2-month lag in RB care?…
