Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma in children.

The clinicopathological features of 10 children with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma treated between 1965 and 1984 are reviewed. Of the patients 9 had embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and 1 was pleomorphic. Median age was 4 years (range 2 to 11 years). Staging was based on clinical findings, chest x-ray, lymphoangiography, computerized tomography and histological studies. The disease was stage I in 5 patients, stage II in 2 and stage IV in 3. Treatment included radical orchiectomy in all patients, chemotherapy in 8 and lumboaortic radiotherapy in 5. No retroperitoneal node lymphadenectomy was performed. Of the 10 children 7 are free of disease after 2 to 19 years (median 7 years) of followup, including all of those with stages I and II disease.