Treatment of Parameningeal Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children

Abstract

Method: Sixteen children with parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma (embryonal variant in 14 and alveolar variant in 2) entered into our research program and received treatment during the period from 2004–2007. The tumors were found in the following locations: the fossa infratemporalis in eight cases, the sinus maxillaries in four cases, and the sinus ethmoidalis in four cases. Two children (13%) had stage 2 disease, 11 (69%) had stage 3, 1 (6%) had stage 4, 4 (25%) children had disease relapse. All the children, at the first stage of their disease, had received chemotherapy (11 received multidrug therapy with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and dactinomycin; 1 received multidrug therapy with cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and carboplatin; and 4 had a combination of dactinomycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and carboplatin). After 3 to 4 courses—the effect was estimated, and six (38%) of the children showed marked positive dynamics. These six children received further treatment with radiation therapy—45.6 Gr and then four more courses of chemotherapy under the previously described scheme. Three (50%) are still alive.