Epidemiological characteristics of rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. After neuroblastoma and Wilms tumor, RMS is the third most common neoplasm among the extra-cranial solid tumors of childhood. RMS represents 5-8% of all malignancies in children.Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children . After neuroblastoma and Wilms tumor, RMS is the third most common neoplasm among the extra-cranial solid tumors of childhood. RMS represents 5-8% of all malignancies in children.A retrospective analysis was performed on 21 medical records of children with RMS who were admitted, treated and followed up at the oncology unit of Pediatric department, Zagazig university hospitals during the period from June 2004 to June 2009. patients were followed up to September 2010, follow up period ranged from 5 to 74 months with a mean of 20 months.Conclusion: A part from the higher prevalence of group 4 and stage IV in our patients and the higher percentage of patients with primary tumor site in the extremities, the epidemiological characteristics of our patients are quite near to the worldwide data. The application of the intensive risk based CWS2002 protocol for treating our patients had led to improvement in the curability of the disease.