Prognosis in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma

Abstract

Survival data on 78 children with rhabdomyosarcoma indicated that age, histology, primary site, extent of disease, and treatment each had a significant influence on prognosis. The best survival occurred in patients with sarcoma botryoides, the poorest with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and the intermediate with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Tumors of the orbit had the best prognosis and tumors of other structures of the head and neck had the worst prognosis. Children under 7 years of age had better survival curves than those older than 7 years. The median duration of survival for the entire group was 19.2 months (5‐year survival rate of 35%). The median duration of survival among 54 children with localized disease was 53.3 months; none of the 24 children with extensive or metastatic disease at diagnosis survived as long as 30 months.

Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children: A SEER Population Based Study

“…Historically, surgery alone achieved a cure in >20% of patients with RMS, implying that microscopic residual tumor invariably remained or had disseminated in the majority of patients despite a total gross resection [26]. Survival has improved considerably, largely due to cooperative group trials (IRSG) employing multidisciplinary treatment protocols, which include multiagent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in addition to surgery.…”

Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma: A case series

“…Sutow and co-workers found that six of the 14 cases in their study had recurrence or metastatic spread within the first year after diagnosis. [12] However, recurrence following treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma as late as six years has also been reported. [3] Hence the need for long term follow-up of these patients treated for orbital rhabdomyosarcoma.…”

Rhabdomyosarcoma of parotid gland

“…Factors affecting the prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma in children are age, histology, primary site, extent of disease and treatment (Sutow et al, 1970;Proops et al 1984). Patients who present when aged under 2 yrs.…”

“…Rhabdomyosarcoma has been classified into four pathological categories embryonal, alveolar, pleomorphic and mixed (Horn and Enterline, 1958). Best survival rates are seen in sarcoma botryoids and poorest among children with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (Sutow et al, 1970). The anatomy of primary site affects both the timing of the onset of symptoms and opportunities for metastasis (Proops et al, 1984).…”