Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT) for children with head-and-neck-rhabdomyosarcoma.
BACKGROUND
The present study evaluates the outcome of 19 children with rhabdomyosarcoma of the head-and-neck region treated with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) or Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT) between August 1995 and November 2005.


METHODS
We treated 19 children with head-and-neck rhabdomyosarcoma with FSRT (n = 14) or IMRT (n = 5) as a part of multimodal therapy. Median age at the time of radiation therapy was 5 years (range 2-15 years). All children received systemic chemotherapy according to the German Soft Tissue Sarcoma Study protocols. Median size of treatment volume for RT was 93,4 ml. We applied a median total dose of 45 Gy (range 32 Gy - 54 Gy) using a median fractionation of 5 x 1,8 Gy/week (range 1,6 Gy - 1,8 Gy). The median time interval between primary diagnosis and radiation therapy was 5 months (range 3-9 months).


RESULTS
After RT, the 3- and 5-year survival rate was 94%. The 3- and 5-year actuarial local control rate after RT was 89%. The actuarial freedom of distant metastases rate at 3- and 5-years was 89% for all patients. Radiotherapy was well tolerated in all children and could be completed without interruptions > 4 days. No toxicities >CTC grade 2 were observed. The median follow-up time after RT was 17 months.


CONCLUSIONS
IMRT and FSRT lead to excellent outcome in children with head-and-neck RMS with a low incidence of treatment-related side effects.
Combs
Stephanie E
SE
University of Heidelberg, Department of Radiation Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Stephanie.Combs@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Behnisch
Wolfgang
W
Kulozik
Andreas E
AE
Huber
Peter E
PE
Debus
Jürgen
J
Schulz-Ertner
Daniela
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques