Intraoral, Pharyngeal, and Nasopharyngeal Rhabdomyosarcoma

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Abstract
The biologic behavior and response to treatment of 49 rhabdomyosarcomas of the oral and pharyngeal regions are reviewed. Whole peripheral rhabdomyosarcoma occurs predominantly in the 40 to 60 year age group, rhabdomyosarcoma arising in the soft tissues of the mouth and pharynx is primarily a disease of the first decade of life. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequent histologic type found in this region with the gross botryoid form predominantly in the nasopharynx. Lingual rhabdomyosarcomas are almost exclusively adult pleomorphic. Recurrences and metastases are the rule, as with rhabdomyosarcoma in general. The neoplasm is prone to both hematogenous and lymphogenous spread, with the most common site of metastases being the lungs and bones. Survival after diagnosis, regardless of treatment, is uniformly poor. Only 6 of the 49 patients lived over 5 years, an incidence of 12.2%.