Rhabdomyosarcoma of head and neck--an analysis of 24 cases

Clinical records of 24 cases or rhabdomyosarcoma involving head and neck region were studied. Majority of the patients (83.3%) were under five years of age. The common sites of involvement were the middle ear (50%) and the nasopharynx (17%). Embryonal variety was noted in majority of patients (83.3%). Pain and swelling in the post aural or pre-auricular region was the commonest mode of presentation. Last four cranial nerves were involved in eight patients and four patients had extension of the tumor in the posterior cranial fossa. Twenty patients having embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma received combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Half of these remained tumor free upto six months. Surgical extirpation was done only in two patients, where the disease was localised. The tumor in these two patients was of pleomorphic variety and did not recur till two years after surgery.