Combination therapy for laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma

A case of childhood laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma is described with a 42 month follow-up and with no evidence of recurrent disease. Treatment included partial excision, postoperative radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with vincristine, actinomycin D, and Cytoxan. Normal laryngeal function has been maintained. Earlier modes of therapy would probably have included total laryngectomy. Recent advances in the combined therapy of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma are reviewed. Resulting cure rates approach 100 per cent in favorable cases. The concept of limited surgical therapy is discussed and is applied to this case.