Rhabdomyosarcoma in the pediatric age group.

Forty-five consecutive cases of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma were studied as to age at onset, histological type, primary site, stage of disease when first seen, method of treatment, and survival. It appears that rhabdomyosarcoma is a relatively radiosensitive tumor which can be controlled locally with radiation alone or in combination with surgery to excise the bulk of the tumor mass. On the other hand, chemotherapy must necessarily play a major role in treatment since most cases are first seen in the late stages of the disease. Close cooperation among a wide range of specialists, such as the pediatrician, radiation therapist, pediatric oncologist, pathologist, and surgeon is essential to accomplish a maximum therapeutic effect in the unfortunate children who develop this relatively rare but aggressive tumor.