Abstract

ARCAMONE, GLENDA  and  HOSPITAL DE NINOS “JM DE LOS RIOS”. SERVICIO DE ONCOLOGÍA et al. Rabdomiosarcoma en niños. Rev. venez. oncol. [online]. 2007, vol.19, n.1, pp.63-70. ISSN 0798-0582.

OBJECTIVES: Determine the epidemiologyc presentation of Rhabdomyosarcoma, in Oncology Service at Hospital de Niños “J.M. de Los Ríos”, from 01.01.1997 to 31.12.2005. METHODS: Retrospective revision of clinical Histories of patient with Rhabdomyosarcoma, both sexes, younger than 16 years. RESULTS: 59 patients, ages between 1 month and 16 years. 66.1 % were male, 45.76 % presented family oncological antecedents. The Lag Time between beginning symptoms and histological diagnosis was 127 days. The Symptoms and more frequent signs: Swelling in 83 %, Pain: 50 %, weight loss: 28.8 %. Anatomical localization: Head and neck: 33.8 %; genitourinary: 23.7 %; extremities: 22 %; pelvic 11.8 %. The Histological type more frequent was: embryonal 76.3 %; followed by the alveolar: 20.3 %; non tipificable: 3.3 %. The distribution by TNM Staging was: ST I: 14(23.7 %), ST II: 2(3.4 %); STIII: 23(39 %); ST IV: 20(33.9 %). All received Systemic Chemotherapy. The abandonment was of 8.47 %. In total 31 patients received Radiotherapy: 28 for healing purpose and 3 palliatives. The current status of the patients: 27 alive patients (45.7 %) 24 without illness, 3 with illness; 29 patients deceased, 3 abandoned the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of Rhabdomyosarcoma in our series is similar to others reported in literature; associate in 45.7 % to family oncological antecedents; primary of head and neck, predominantly of embryonal type. Retarded diagnoses were observed: more than 70 % of our patients are diagnosed with advanced illness.

Keywords : Cancer; soft tissues sarcomas; rhabdomyosarcoma.