[Rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate in a child: report of a case].

A case of prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma in a 5-year-old boy is presented. He was referred to us because of complete urinary retention. Histologically, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate was found. Initially, he was treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, actinomycin-D, adriamycin and radiation therapy. This therapy reduced the size of the tumor markedly. Therefore, we performed prostatectomy. No tumor cells were found on the surgical margin of the resected prostate. About 11 months after the operation, rapidly growing recurrent lesions were found near the bladder neck. Bilateral hydronephrosis and an intravesical massive space occupying lesion were found on the excretory pyelograms and cystogram. Then three drug combination chemotherapy consisting of vinblastine, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum and bleomycin (PVB therapy) was administered and the first course of the chemotherapy reduced the size of the recurrent tumor. Drainage of contrast medium from bilateral kidneys became smooth, and no gross hematuria or severe frequency was observed. Total cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion was performed. Four months after this operation, metastatic lesions appeared at the pubic bone, right ischiadic bone and rectum, and they were resected operatively. However, multiple pulmonary metastases soon occurred, and he did on June 30, 1985, approximately 2 years after the first diagnosis. We have discussed the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy, especially PVB therapy for recurrent cases.