Incontinence of urine and stool following treatment in infancy for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.
A vaginal rhabdomyosarcoma which occurred in an 11-month-old infant was treated with conservative surgical excision, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The long-term sequelae of this therapy included rectal stenosis, which required surgical correction, and urinary incontinence. The patient may have had fewer long-term complications if a more aggressive surgical procedure had been performed at the time of diagnosis because a gross and microscopically complete excision would have obviated the need of postoperative pelvic irradiation. Strong consideration of total surgical excision should be given to infants with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma.
D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*