Nonsurgical treatment of pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma: a case report

A 2 1/2-year-old male child with rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate was treated with radiation of the pelvis, consisting of 5,600 rads in 7 1/2 weeks, and combination chemotherapy of Vincristine and Actinomycin D. Surgery had been refused. The child is alive and disease-free more than 5 years after diagnosis, and over 2 years following the cessation of all therapy. Recent advances in radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy have significantly improved the outlook in this aggressive childhood neoplasm and have made a less aggressive and less mutilating surgical approach often desirable. This, in turn, holds out the prospect of improved quality of survival in children so afflicted.