Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common malignant soft-tissue tumor in the pediatric population, occurs most often in the head and neck region. Major advancements in the management of these aggressive tumors have been achieved in the last 20 years on three fronts: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Surgery, with the advent of skull-base, craniofacial, and free-tissue-transfer reconstructive techniques, has once again become part of the primary management of these tumors. Prior to 1960, RMS was uniformly fatal; now, with the introduction of multimodality treatment regimens, two thirds of patients can expect long-term survival.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Donaldson SSRhabdomyosarcoma: contemporary status and future directions. Arch Surg.1989;124:1015-1020.
2.
McQuarrie DG et al. Head and Neck Cancer: Clinical Decisions and Management Principles . Chicago, IL: Year Book Medical Publishers;1986:413-440.
3.
Albin RE et al. Rhabdomyosarcoma of the pterygoid fossa. Cancer . 1986;58:163-168.
4.
Maurer HM et al. The intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma study I: a final report. Cancer.1988;61:209-220.
5.
Newman AN, Rice DHRhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck. Laryngoscope. 1984;94:234-239.
6.
Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study IV for Stage I - IV Disease , November 1, 1990.
7.
Thawley SE, Panje WRComprehensive Management of Head and Neck Tumors. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co; 1987:1770-1820.
8.
McGill T.Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck: an update. Otolaryngol Clin North Am.1989;22 (3):631-636.
9.
Barasch ES et al. Primitive neuroectodermal tumor presenting as a delayed sequela to cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate. Pediatr Neurol.1988 ;4(6):375-378.
