Rhabdomyosarcoma of the larynx in children: a series of five patients treated in the Institut Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France)

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the larynx is a malignant disease rarely seen in children. We present five cases (3 males, 2 females) observed among 126 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck (excluding the orbit) treated in the Institut Gustave-Roussy between 1955 and 1981. The patients were aged between 5 1/2 years and 13 1/2 years at the time of diagnosis. The presenting symptoms were dysphonia and/or dyspnea; tracheotomy was required in two cases. All five patients received chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, actinomycin D + procarbazine or doxorubicin. Four patients also received radiotherapy (45 Gy during 5 weeks). Laryngectomy was not performed. Treatment sequelae included regional hypoplasia, huskiness, and subclinical thyroid insufficiency; two patients developed a benign thyroid adenoma. One patient presented a bilateral carotid stenosis subsequent to radiotherapy performed on "wide fields" portal designed to provided prophylactic treatment on uninvolved lymph nodes. All the patients are alive and relapse-free with a follow-up of between 13 and 17 years. This small series of RMS of the larynx shows that patients can be cured without laryngectomy, although long-term sequelae associated with radiotherapy are observed.