A total of 18 patients were identified with two-thirds being males (n = 12) with median age of 7 years. Most of the children were below 10 years of age. Lower limbs tumour predominated (n = 6) followed by the upper limbs and head and neck (n = 4 each). Other sites included perianal/perineal (n = 3) and the orbit (n = 1). Two patients were Intergroup Rabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) group I; four group II; five group III; and seven group IV. Lymph node involvement was the commonest site of metastasis. Clinical group and stage was significantly more advanced in patients older than 10 years compared to younger than 10 years (P = 0.010; P = 0.008; respectively). There were 12 patients with alveolar disease while six had embryonal type of rhabdomyosarcoma. Treatment was by combination chemotherapy; and surgical excision which was done primarily in 11; after chemotherapy in four; and after radiotherapy in one. Two had biopsy only. Five patients are alive; two of them without evidence of disease at average follow-up period of 2 years.
Conclusion:
Mortality from rhadomyosarcoma in our setting is still unacceptably high. Late presentation may be the major contributor to high mortality. A more aggressive multimodality treatment approach may improve the