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Review
. 2003 Jul;41(1):1-6.
doi: 10.1002/mpo.10261.

Role of surgery in children with rhabdomyosarcoma

Erica L Schalow  1 , Bruce H Broecker
Affiliations
Review

Role of surgery in children with rhabdomyosarcoma

Erica L Schalow et al. Med Pediatr Oncol. 2003 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood. Historically, surgery has played a central role in the management of children with this tumor, though with surgery alone survival rates were poor. With current multimodal (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) treatment of these patients, survival has dramatically improved and, with this improvement, there has been an evolution of the role of surgery in the management of this condition.

Material and method: The contemporary published literature (English) regarding surgical aspects of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma was reviewed and evaluated.

Results: Multimodal therapy has improved the survival of children with RMS from 25% in 1970 to greater than 70% today. Surgical procedures for childhood RMS today are less apt to be exenterative or mutilating than those employed thirty years ago.

Conclusions: Surgery plays a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of children with RMS. This role has evolved in the context of multimodal therapy and improved survival to an emphasis on less radical procedures with decreased morbidity.

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