Abstract
From 1961 to 1986, 29 patients with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma (including pelvic retroperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma) were admitted to the paediatric surgical service at the Red Cross Children's Hospital, Cape Town. During the period 1961–1970, the mainstay of treatment was radical surgery with or without subsquent chemotheraphy and radiotherapy. Of the 13 patients, only 2 have survived long-term (15%). From 1971 a new management policy of pre-treatment with chemotherapy and in some instances radiotherapy followed by conservative limited surgery was commenced. Twelve of the 16 patients have survived (75%). One patient with stage III prostatic tumour had treatment with only chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is surviving 8 years after diagnosis; another with a vaginal tumour, also stage III, whose parents refused surgery is alive tumour-free 4 years after similar treatment. Chemotherapy has not only significantly improved survival in pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma but has permitted limited surgery and in some instances has resulted in survival without surgical excision.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Crist WM, Raney RB, Tefft M, Heyn R, Hays DM, Newton W, Beltangady M, Maurer HM (1985) Soft-tissue sarcomas arising in the retroperitoneal space in children: a report from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) Committee. Cancer 56: 2125–2132
Ghavimi F, Herr H, Jereb B, Exelby PR (1984) Treatment of genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma in children. J Urol 132: 313–319
Grosfeld JL, Weber TR, Weetman RM, Baehner RL (1983) Rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood: analysis of survival in 98 cases. J Pediatr Surg 18: 141–146
Hays DM (1980) Pelvic rhabdomyosarcomas in childhood: diagnosis and concepts of management reviewed. Cancer 45: 1810–1814
Hays DM, Raney RB Jr, Lawrence W Jr, Gehan EA, Soule EH, Tefft M, Maurer HM (1981) Rhabdomyosarcoma of the female urogenital tract. J Pediatr Surg 16: 828–834
Hays DM, Raney RB Jr, Lawrence W Jr, Tefft M, Soule EH, Crist WM, Foulkes M, Maurer HM (1982) Primary chemotherapy in the treatment of children with bladder-prostate tumors in the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS-II). J Pediatr Surg 17: 812–820
Huang C-J (1986) Rhabdomyosarcoma involving the genitourinary organs, retroperitoneum, and pelvis. J Pediatr Surg 21: 101–107
Kaplan WE, Firlit CF, Berger RM (1983) Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma. J Urol 130: 116–119
Ortega JA (1979) A therapeutic approach to childhood pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma without pelvic exenteration. J Pediatr 94: 205–209
Raney RB, Hays D, Maurer H, Tefft M, Soule E, Foulkes M (1983) Primary chemotherapy ± radiation therapy (RT) and/or surgery for children with sarcoma of the prostate, bladder, or vagina: preliminary results of the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS-II) 1978–1982. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2: 75, abstract C-293
Raney B Jr, Carey A, Snyder HMcC, Duckett JW, Schnaufer L, Rosenberg HK, Mahboubi S, Chatten J, Littman P (1986) Primary site as a prognostic variable for children with pelvic soft tissue sarcomas. J Urol 136: 874–878
Voûte PA, Vos A, de Kraker J (1984) Chemotherapy as initial treatment in rhabdomyosarcoma. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 3: 87, abstract C-341
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Offprint requests to: S. Cywes
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cywes, S., Karabus, C.D., Rode, H. et al. Pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma in children. Pediatr Surg Int 3, 275–279 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179256
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179256