Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck in children.

Seventeen children with rhabdomyosarcoma arising in the head and neck are presented. With a median follow-up of 2 years 3 months, 11 patients are currently living, seven patients are alive free of disease, and local control was achieved in 11 patients. Of 13 group III patients managed with irradiation and chemotherapy following biopsy, seven patients are alive, with four patients free of disease, and local control achieved in eight patients. In a subgroup of nine group III patients with tumor involving multiple head and neck sites, four patients are alive, with two patients free of disease, and local control achieved in six patients. In four groups I-II patients, local control was achieved in three, and all patients are currently living. Long-term complications include facial bone hypoplasia in three patients and cataracts in three patients. Primary irradiation and chemotherapy can locally control rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck, while avoiding the functional and cosmetic sequelae associated with surgical ablation.