title: Multimodal therapy for the initial management of genital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood.
abstract: Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma found in children. A polypoid form of the embryonal type of rhabdomyosarcoma, namely, sarcoma botryoides, is often found in girls younger than 5 years, and typically presents as a polypoid mass protruding from the vagina. Over the years, there has been a shift in the treatment of this condition from radical surgery to a multimodal approach involving conservative surgery with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This approach has been associated with improved survival and preservation of normal anatomy and function. We discuss the initial management of a 4-year-old girl with pelvic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma using a multimodal approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. maharajn13@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nimako
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018233:Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*