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AIM: This paper describes the epidemiology and family history status of 1601 children with retinoblastoma in Great Britain diagnosed 1963-2002 and summarises the practical consequences for diagnosis and counselling of developments in molecular genetics. METHODS: Incidence rates were analysed according to year of diagnosis and tumour laterality. Cases were classified as heritable or non-heritable on the basis of laterality and family history of the disease. RESULTS: There were 998 unilateral cases, 581 bilateral and 22 of unknown laterality. Bilateral cases tended to be diagnosed at a younger age than unilateral. All bilateral cases are regarded as heritable, and 35% had a family history of the disease. 7% of the unilateral cases had a family history and are therefore heritable. Thus, at least (41%) of our cases are heritable. This is an underestimate, since these data on family history are incomplete. For unilateral cases aged below 1 year, the reported incidence rate increased significantly (p<0.0001) by about 2.5% per year; for the age group 1-4 years, the average increase was about 0.5% per year (not significant).

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/bjo.2008.139618

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br j ophthalmol

Publication Date

01/2009

Volume

93

Pages

33 - 37

Keywords

Adolescent, Age Distribution, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Genetic Counseling, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Registries, Retinal Neoplasms, Retinoblastoma, Sex Distribution, Time Factors, United Kingdom