title: Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck region: experience at the pediatric unit of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to describe the clinical features and outcome of pediatric patients with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), which can be divided into parameningeal, orbital, or nonorbital, nonparameningeal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective single-institution analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study considered 142 consecutive patients < 21 years treated from 1973 to 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated using a multimodality approach: complete conservative surgery was performed at diagnosis in only two patients, all patients received chemotherapy, and most (91%) also had radiotherapy. Disease-free survival and overall survival were estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the series as a whole, the 5-year disease-free and overall surival rates were 49% and 57%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate improved over the years from 38% before 1980 to 78% after 1990; it was 44% for parameningeal, 79% for orbital, and 77% for nonorbital, nonparameningeal RMS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of head and neck RMS is complex and necessarily multidisciplinary. Complete surgery is rarely feasible in the head and neck region. This study confirms that orbital RMS has a favourable outcome, whereas therapeutic results are generally unsatisfactory in parameningeal cases, although recent progress in radiotherapeutic techniques and in the efficacy of chemotherapy would suggest clear improvements in survival.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan. cristina.meazza@istitutotumori.mi.it
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meazza
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massimino
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luksch
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spreafico
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cefalo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terenziani
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Polastri
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cereda
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandola
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fossati-Bellani
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantù
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis