[Radiotherapy in the treatment of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma]

The authors present the results obtained in 14 children affected with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, who were studied between 1979 and 1991 at the I Dept. of Radiology and Radiotherapy of the II Policlinico, Naples, Italy. The patients (age range: 14 months to 15 years) had received radiotherapy and chemotherapy: the dose was 6000 cGy to the orbital region (one case was given 4500 cGy and then interrupted radiotherapy for personal reasons). Twelve children underwent a standard protocol, that is biopsy followed by immediate irradiation and chemotherapy; surgery was performed in 2 cases. 90% survival at 2 years was obtained in our series. All 14 patients are alive and free of detectable disease, after a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 126 months from diagnosis. In 3 children a locoregional relapse was observed 12, 15, and 16 months after clinical diagnosis. They have received a new cycle of radiation therapy and are now free of detectable disease. In all children, ocular structures have been spared, and the complications observed so far have been few. Therefore, the authors suggest that the combination of immediate radiotherapy and chemotherapy might represent an optimal tool for the treatment of orbital rhabdomyosarcomas.