Rhabdomyosarcoma in children: a SEER population based study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Cancer Epidemiology
• Tumor Biology

Background:

• Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare pediatric soft tissue sarcoma.
• Understanding its incidence and outcomes is crucial for improving patient care.
• Histological subtypes and patient demographics significantly influence prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).
• To analyze the outcomes and survival rates associated with pediatric RMS.
• To identify prognostic factors influencing mortality in pediatric RMS patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry.
• Included patients diagnosed with RMS under 20 years of age.
• Conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to identify predictors of mortality.

Main Results:

• Identified 1544 pediatric RMS cases with an incidence of 0.44/100,000 annually.
• Embryonal RMS (67%) was more common in younger children, while alveolar and pleomorphic types were more frequent in adolescents.
• 5- and 10-year survival rates were 60% and 57%, respectively; factors like age < 10, localized disease, and embryonal type improved survival.

Conclusions:

• Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common pediatric subtype, presenting in younger children with a better prognosis.
• Favorable outcomes are associated with embryonal histology, favorable tumor location, age under 10, localized disease, and surgical resection.
• Non-embryonal type, unfavorable sites, lack of surgery, older age, and distant disease independently predict higher mortality.