Conservative treatment followed by chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide for cervical sarcoma botryoides in young females

Abstract

Sarcoma botryoides of the cervix is an extremely rare tumour and seems to be associated with a better prognosis than its vaginal counterpart. Recent studies have suggested that it is possible to limit surgery to local excision in stage I cases. We report three cases of young subjects treated successfully with polypectomy or diathermy loop excision followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. One patient had a local recurrence which was treated with further local excision. All subjects remain alive without evidence of recurrence and with normal menstrual function 36, 38 and 38 months following initial diagnosis. A conservative surgical approach to early cervical sarcoma botryoides is possible. The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy and the regimen of choice still need to be investigated.

Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Cervix: A Case Report

“…Although there is a trend to adjuvant cytostatic chemotherapy in the recent literature, the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy remains controversial. Some studies demonstrated a significant benefit [8] while others found no benefit from these regimens, especially in group I patients [2]. This is most likely due to the rarity of the condition, the limited number of cases in published studies, variations in staging procedures, the wide range of different cytotoxic agents used, their combination and doses without controlled clinical trials.…”

“…The procedure of choice is polypectomy, polypectomy + D & C, cervicectomy, partial excision, local excision, conization, simple hysterectomy and radical surgery with selective pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Recent studies have suggested that it is possible to limit surgery to local excision in stage I cases [2,8]. Although the presented tumor was unresectable because of its unfavorable site, it can be assumed that survival will be better if the patients could be treated with surgery in addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy rather than employing only radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.…”