Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequent soft tissue tumor in children with prevalence of 5-8% among childhood cancers. The survival of patients are related to some factors such as primary site of tumor, histology, stage of disease, early diagnosis and treatment. The survival rate of these patients has significantly increased since the 1970s. Considering the variety of reports and studies in this regard, we evaluated the 5-10yr. survival rate in this group of patients. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional survival analysis study that has been carried out on 77 children up to 15 years of age with Rhabdomyosarcoma who were admitted in the hematology and oncology wards of AliAsghar children Hospital from 1993-2003 and were evaluated in regard to age at time of admission, pathology, stage of disease, primary site, type of treatment received and its' relation to survival rate. For analysis SPSS version 11.5 software was used. For determination of survival rate Kaplan Meire method and for evaluation of factors affecting it cox regression was used. P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of cases was 6.58 years with SD=4.02, males 60%, females 40% and mean survival time of cases was 8 years(95% CI: 8-9). The 5 year survival in stage I was 85.82%, stage II 86.88%, stage III 64.68% and stage IV 20%. The survival rate in tumor histology was embryonal 86.7%, and alveolar 48%. In regard to primary site of tumor orbit 94%, genitourinary tract 85.71%, parameningeal 57% and in extremity was 58%. Overall 5 and 10 year survival rates were 79.54% and 77.92% respectively. Conclusion: Like other studies, children with lower stages of rhabdomyosarcoma, embryonal histology, orbital and genitourinary as primary sites had better survival. Poor prognosis was associated with metastatic disease at the time of presentation, alveolar histology and tumors of extremity. Children who survived the first 5 years after diagnosis had relatively longer survival and better prognosis 5 and 10yr. survival rates were 79.54% and 77.92% respectively.