[Juvenile rhabdomyosarcoma. Diagnosis and new therapeutic possibilities]

Seventeen children with rhabdomyosarcoma stage I to III diagnosed since 1973 are presented. The coordinated management utilizing surgical excision, irradiation (5000 rad) and systemic adjuvant multiagent chemotherapy is described. The favorable sites were head and neck sites and genitourinary region. The mean survival is at present 19 months. 14 children are alive and well. 13 children had no tumor recidivation, 1 child had 8 months after beginning of the therapy lung metastases which after irradiation with 2000 rad disappeared. 3 children (stage III) died 9, 14 and 20 months after diagnosis during therapy by metastases. Acute and late effects on normal tissues from radiation and chemotherapy were noted in 12 cases. A review of the literature and therapeutic alternatives in the future are indicated.