Rhabdomyosarcoma of the soft palate in three patients with follow-up of longer than ten years

✍ Scribed by Maso, Maurizio Dal ;Kushner, Joseph H. ;Dedo, Herbert H.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1986
• Weight: 423 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-6403
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890090109

✦ Synopsis

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck is a rare childhood neoplasm. Most occur in the orbit, which accounts for the scarcity of papers on modem techniques of treatment of soft palate rhabdomyosarcomas. Only 30 cases of soft palate rhabdomyosarcoma have been reported in recent years and none had longterm follow-up periods (>lo yr). This study reports three cases of pediatric soft palate rhabdomyosarcomas treated with surgery, radiotherapy (two of three), and chemotherapy. The complications that occurred in one patient are discussed. HEAD & NECK SURGERY 9:46-50,1986

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare neoplasm that can occur in the head and neck area most commonly in the first decade of life. Rhabdomyosarcoma originating in the head and neck area may be considered separately from other rhabdomyosarcomas; they create specific problems and have a distinct prognosis.

Rhabdomyosarcoma represents 5-15% of all malignant solid tumors and 4 4 % of all malignant diseases in children <15 yr of age.14 Most occur in the orbit and it is difficult to find reports in the From the Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Drs.