Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck in children

Twenty-two children, 9 male and 13 female, with a non-orbital rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck, treated between 1970 and 1988, have been reviewed. Since 1972, treatment has consisted of combination chemotherapy, and where necessary radiotherapy and/or surgery. Complete clinical remission after initial chemotherapy was observed in 21 children. Six children were cured after primary treatment but 15 developed recurrent disease. Thirteen children had a parameningeal localized tumour, with eventual meningeal involvement in 5. Survival in this group was worse than in the non-meningeal group. Lymph node metastasis at first presentation (5 patients) had no influence on prognosis, whereas development of lymph node metastases during follow-up resulted in 100% mortality. All patients were retrospectively classified according to both the IRS-classification and TNM-descriptive system. No correlation with either system could be established. Fourteen of 15 children with recurrent disease were treated, 4 of whom were cured. Thus, 10 out of 22 (45%) children were long-term survivors.