Head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas in children: value of clinical and CT findings in the detection of loco-regional relapses.
Between 1984 and 1990, 16 children who had been treated for a histologically proven head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma developed 19 local recurrences. Fourteen relapses discovered in 11 children (group 1) were based on clinical data acquired 3 to 52 months after completion of treatment. Clinical symptoms (12 patients) or examination (2 patients) led to suspicion of a relapse. The clinical presentation of relapses and that of primary tumour were identical in eight cases. CT scans performed prior to recurrence revealed a stable 'post-therapeutic residue' without mass effect at the original site (12 patients) or was normal (2 patients). Six of these 11 children died at 1 to 15 months and five are alive 12 to 36 months after treatment of recurrence. Five relapses were discovered on CT studies 3 to 15 months after completion of treatment in the remaining five children (group 2). Clinical examination was normal in all cases. CT scans performed 3 months before recurrence showed a stable 'post-therapeutic residue' (4 patients) or was normal (1 patient). All of these five children died 3 to 23 months after the relapse.
Gilles
R
R
Department of Radiology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Couanet
D
D
Sigal
R
R
De Baere
T
T
Tardivon
A
A
Masselot
J
J
Vanel
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed