Rhabdomyosarcoma in infants and children: Factors affecting long-term survival

Abstract

Thirty-three cases of rhabdomyosarcomas from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh have been reviewed alone, and in combination with 117 cases from two other institutions as reported in the literature give a larger series for evaluation. Survival was 43% in our series and 29% in the larger series. No relationship was observed between the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis and survival. Patients under 1 yr of age did poorly, particularly when compared with cases of other common embryonal tumors. As might be expected, those patients whose tumors presented as resectable lesions did far better than those with nonresectable lesions. Tumors that arise in the orbit and the extremities result in a better survival rate than do those in other primary sites. The best regimen appears to be one that makes use of surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy.