[Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma of the infratemporal fossa]

Abstract

Objective: Prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma of the infratemporal fossa is generally poor. We report our experience.

Material and methods: Twenty-three children with rhabdomyosarcoma of the infratemporal fossa were treated at the Gustave Roussy and Curie Institutes between 1984 and 1999. Seventeen children received radiotherapy (group 1), four children were treated surgically with or without postoperative radiotherapy (group 2), and two children received no further treatment after chemotherapy (group 3).

Results: In group 1, there were 10 local recurrences and one metastatic failure; all 11 children died from their disease. Nodal recurrence was salvaged successfully in one other with chemotherapy and surgery. In group 2, three children were disease free at 3 years and one died of local recurrence. In group 3, one child experienced a local recurrence successfully salvaged with radiotherapy. This child was disease free at 3 years. The other child developed local recurrence and died.

Discussion: Overall survival rate in our patients was 50%. Local control remained the main prognostic factor for survival. Surgery has already been shown to improve local control in other localizations of rhabdomyosarcoma. If residual tumor tissue remains after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery should be considered in a multidisciplinary discussion of therapeutic options. Indications for postoperative radiotherapy depend on age and histological features of the surgical specimen.