Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma in Morocco.
BACKGROUND
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in the first two decades of life. There is, however, a paucity of reports on the pattern of its occurrence in Africa. This study analyses the epidemiological pattern, clinical features, histology, and outcome in Moroccan children presenting with RMS.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 100 consecutive cases of histologically proven RMS in previously untreated children <15 years old followed at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Children's Hospital of Rabat from January 1995 to December 2004.


RESULTS
RMS represented 5% of all the patients treated for cancer during this period. The male/female ratio was 2:1 with a mean age at diagnosis of 5 years. The embryonal subtype was the most frequent (73%) and the head and neck was the most common site of disease, followed by the genito-urinary tract and limbs. Chemotherapy was used in all patients; 44% also had a radical surgery and 23% radiation therapy. The event-free survival (EFS) at 10 years was 39% with relapse as the first cause of treatment failure. The overall survival at 10 years was 70%. The rate of treatment abandonment was 37%.


CONCLUSIONS
Epidemiology and clinical features of RMS in Moroccan children does not differ from others countries. However, EFS is lower than that reported elsewhere due to occasional lack of availability of drugs, inadequate local control, and abandonment.
Hessissen
Laila
L
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Children's Hospital of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco. laila_hsn@yahoo.fr
Kanouni
Lamya
L
Kili
Amina
A
Nachef
Mohamed Nacer
MN
El Khorassani
Mohamed
M
Benjaafar
Noureddine
N
Khattab
Mohamed
M
El Gueddari
Brahim El Khalil
Bel K
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome