OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the clinical features and outcome of pediatric @entity1 with @entity135 ( @entity980 ), which can be divided into parameningeal, orbital, or nonorbital, nonparameningeal. DESIGN: This is a retrospective single-institution analysis. SETTING: The study was performed at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy. METHODS: The study considered 142 consecutive @entity1 < 21 years treated from 1973 to 2003. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: @entity1 were treated using a multimodality approach: complete conservative surgery was performed at diagnosis in only two @entity1 , all @entity1 received chemotherapy, and most (91%) also had radiotherapy. Disease-free survival and overall survival were estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: For the series as a whole, the 5-year disease-free and overall surival rates were 49% and 57%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate improved over the years from 38% before 1980 to 78% after 1990; it was 44% for parameningeal, 79% for orbital, and 77% for nonorbital, nonparameningeal @entity980 . CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of head and neck @entity980 is complex and necessarily multidisciplinary. Complete surgery is rarely feasible in the head and neck region. This study confirms that orbital @entity980 has a favourable outcome, whereas therapeutic results are generally unsatisfactory in parameningeal cases, although recent progress in radiotherapeutic techniques and in the efficacy of chemotherapy would suggest clear improvements in survival.

XXXX of the head and neck region: experience at the pediatric unit of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'Patients'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma'] @entity980 :: ('MESH:D012208', 'Disease') :: ['RMS']
@entity980 :: (MESH:D012208,Disease) :: ['Rhabdomyosarcoma']
