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Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck

Introduction Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a diagnostic and therapeutic problem in the management of paediatric tumours, representing the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood (Mahour et al., 1967). These tumours represent between 5 and 15 per cent of all malignant solid tumours and 4 and 18 per cent of malignant diseases in children below 15 years of age (Sutow et al., 1970; Young and Miller, 1975). Rhabdomyosarcomas originating in the head and neck comprise 36 per cent of all cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (Maurer etal., 1977). Head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas may be considered separately from other rhabdomyosarcomas, as they create specific problems and have a distinct prognosis (Donaldson et al., 1973). In the last 12 years, the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma has undergone a revolution. In 1972, the Acute Leukaemia Group B, the Children's Cancer Study and the South-west Oncology Group combined their resources and initiated a prospective inter-group study of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma (Inter-group Rhabdomyosarcoma study, IRS). Since the publication of their preliminary results in 1977 (Maurer et al., 1977), it has become clear that multiinodal therapy, including surgery when feasible, radiation and adjuvant multidrug chemotherapy offers the best chance of survival for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. The present paper reviews our clinical material of rhabdomyosarcoma originating in the head and neck in the light of available literature.