Clinicopathologic features of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma and treatment outcomes in Ibadan, Nigeria: A 10-year review

Researchers conducted the study for describing the clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment outcomes of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma in a resource-constrained setting. All cases of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma seen at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria, from July 2006 to June 2016 were reviewed. Data were obtained from the database of the pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit of the hospital and analyzed. Fifty children, 30 men and 20 women, with bimodal ages of 4 and 5 years, were observed. The median duration of illness was 16 weeks, and the head-and-neck region was the most common primary tumor site in 27 (54%) of cases. The histologic subtypes were embryonal in 30 (60%) cases, alveolar in 9 (18%) cases, and not specified in 11 (22%) cases. Treatment involved chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and abandoned in 20 (40%) cases. Childhood rhabdomyosarcoma has a poor prognosis, and early detection and improved access to treatment are recommended.