Rhabdomyosarcoma of head and neck in children

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare condition that tends to occur in the head and neck in children. This disease carried a very poor prognosis until 10 years ago when a multidisciplinary approach (with surgery, therapy and multiple drug chemotherapy) was instituted. In this article a review of the literature on embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is given and three rare cases have been reported; the first involved the palate, the second affected the ear and mastoid, and the third was a case originating in the nasopharynx with orbital involvement. Clinical and histopathological descriptions are given and the results of therapy are evaluated.