Pediatric sarcomas of the head and neck other than rhabdomyosarcoma

Primary Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma of Thyroid Gland in an Adult Patient: A Case Report

Thyroid sarcoma is a very rare entity, accounting for less than 1% of all malignant thyroid tumours. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a sarcoma subtype, which is more common in children and adolescents. In this case, a 68-year old man, presented with hoarseness and diagnosed with pleomorphic RMS, was explored. No study of primary thyroid pure RMS has been reported in the literature, with the exception of the case reports of differentiated RMS.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for pediatric and young adult nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the prognostic factors, outcomes, and complications in patients aged ≤30 years with resectable nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma treated at the University of Florida with radiotherapy (RT) during a 34-year period.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 95 pediatric or young adult patients with nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma were treated with curative intent with surgery and RT at the University of Florida between 1973 and 2007. The most common histologic tumor subtypes were synovial sarcoma in 22 patients, malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 19, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in 11 patients. The mean age at RT was 22 years (range, 6-30). Of the 95 patients, 73 had high-grade tumors; 45 had undergone preoperative RT and 50 postoperative RT. The prognostic factors for survival, local recurrence, and distant recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 7.2 years (range, 0.4-30.5). The actuarial 5-year local control rate was 88%. A microscopically negative margin was associated with superior local control. Although 83% of local recurrence cases initially developed in the absence of metastases, all patients with local failure ultimately died of their disease. The actuarial estimate of 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival was 65% and 63%, respectively. Of all the deaths, 92% were disease related. An early American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, tumor<8 cm, and the absence of neurovascular invasion were associated with superior disease-free survival. The National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3, Grade 3-4 treatment complication rate was 9%. No secondary malignancies were observed.

CONCLUSION

In the present large single-institution study, we found positive margins and locally advanced features to be poor prognostic factors for both local progression and survival. The results from the present study have helped to characterize the therapeutic ratio of RT in pediatric and young adult sarcoma patients and have provided a basis for identifying high-risk patients for whom treatment intensification might be justified.

The approaches and outcomes of skull base surgery for pediatric sarcoma after initial therapy

OBJECTIVE

Surgical removal of the residual pediatric sarcoma after initial therapy is common; however, that in the skull base area still presents a formidable challenge. We reviewed the approaches and outcomes of skull base surgery for pediatric sarcoma.

METHODS

Thirteen patients with pediatric sarcoma who received skull base surgery were reviewed retrospectively. Tumor sites, surgical approach, complications, regional recurrence after surgery, and survival rate were analyzed.

RESULTS

The residual tumor sites were the infratemporal fossa (8), nasal cavity and paranasal sinus (4) and orbit with anterior skull base invasion (1). Coronal skin incision (1), that with preauricular skin incision (7) and facial dismasking flap (5) were applied to patients as the skin preparation. Following skin preparations, anterior skull base surgery with frontal craniotomy (3), infratemporal fossa approach with temporal craniotomy (5), and anterior-lateral skull base with front-temporal craniotomy (1) were performed. Tumors were removed with a sufficient surgical field in all patients. Facial nerve palsy (9), facial deformity (4), orbital complications (diplopia, decreased visual acuity, narrowing of visual field) (2) and occlusal imbalance (1) occurred. However, facial palsy, diplopia and occlusal imbalance subsided gradually. Local recurrence occurred in 6 cases and distant metastasis was observed in 4 cases. The overall 5-years survival rate was 51.9% (Kaplan-Meier method).

CONCLUSION

These tumors were safely removed with minimum morbidity. Skull base surgery is recommended to remove residual pediatric sarcoma after the initial treatment.

Tumores malignos de cabeça e pescoço em pacientes com menos de 18 anos de idade

A conduta ideal para os pacientes menores de 18 anos portadores de tumores malignos da região de cabeça e pescoço não é uniforme nos escassos relatos de literatura. Com o objetivo de mostrar e discutir a experiência no atendimento de cinqüenta casos tratados no Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Complexo Hospitalar Heliópolis, no período de 1978 a 1994, os autores procederam a uma análise retrospectiva de sua casuística. Os tipos histológicos mais freqüentes foram os derivados da linhagem epitelial, 24 casos (48%) e, entre eles, o carcinoma mucoepidermóide. Entre os tumores derivados do tecido mensequimal, os mais freqüentes foram o rabdomiossarcoma e os linfomas. A cavidade oral foi o sítio mais freqüentemente acometido (15 casos, 30%). Entre todos os pacientes, apenas 21 (42%) estavam vivos e sem evidência de doença em atividade por um período que variou de seis meses a 18 anos. Quatorze (28%) pacientes morreram em decorrência de doença não controlada após um período que variou de dez dias a dois anos a contar da data do final do tratamento. De quatorze (28%) pacientes não pudemos obter informações atualizadas de suas condições e foram considerados perdidos de seguimento. Estes tumores não devem ser vistos como neoplasias de adultos localizadas em pacientes pediátricos; devem ser estudados e abordados como uma doença que apresenta características próprias e que exigem, como no adulto, que a primeira intervenção para o diagnóstico ou para o tratamento não seja intempestiva e, de fato, tenha resolubilidade.