R. Gilles et al., HEAD AND NECK RHABDOMYOSARCOMAS IN CHILDREN - VALUE OF CLINICAL AND CT FINDINGS IN THE DETECTION OF LOCO-REGIONAL RELAPSES, Clinical Radiology, 49(6), 1994, pp. 412-415
Between 1984 and 1990, 16 children who had been treated for a histolog
ically proven head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma developed 19 local recurr
ences. Fourteen relapses discovered in 11 children (group 1) were base
d on clinical data acquired 3 to 52 months after completion of treatme
nt. Clinical symptoms (12 patients) or examination (2 patients) led to
suspicion of a relapse. The clinical presentation of relapses and tha
t of primary tumour were identical in eight cases. CT scans performed
prior to recurrence revealed a stable 'post-therapeutic residue' witho
ut mass effect at the original site (12 patients) or was normal (2 pat
ients). Six of these 11 children died at 1 to 15 months and five are a
live 12 to 36 months after treatment of recurrence. Five relapses were
discovered on CT studies 3 to 15 months after completion of treatment
in the remaining five children (group 2). Clinical examination was no
rmal in all cases. CT scans performed 3 months before recurrence showe
d a stable 'post-therapeutic residue' (4 patients) or was normal (1 pa
tient). All of these five children died 3 to 23 months after the relap
se.