TURKISH JOURNAL of ONCOLOGY
Adult Rhabdomyosarcoma: Clinical Features and
Radiotherapy Outcomes—The Turkish Oncology Group
(TOG) Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Study Group
Received: September 04, 2018
Accepted: October 10, 2018
Online: October 26, 2018
Accessible online at:
www.onkder.org
This study has been conducted on behalf of Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Study Group
and was presented as an oral presentation in 13
th
National Radiation Oncology Congress at 30
th
April 2018.
Turk J Oncol 2018
doi: 10.5505/tjo.2018.1841
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Esra KORKMAZ KIRAKLI,
1
Ayça İRİBAŞ,
2
Arzu ERGEN,
3
Banu ATALAR,
4
Fulya AĞAOĞLU,
2
Fazilet ÖNDER DİNÇBAŞ,
3
Emin DARENDELİLER,
2
Yavuz ANACAK,
5
Serra KAMER
5
1
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, İzmir-Turkey
2
Department of Radiation Oncology, İstanbul University Oncology Institute, İstanbul-Turkey
3
Department of Radiation Oncology, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul-Turkey
4
Department of Radiation Oncology, Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul-Turkey
5
Department of Radiation Oncology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir-Turkey
OBJECTIVE
Although rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most frequent sof tissue sarcoma diagnosed in childhood,
it represents only 2%–5% of adult sof tissue sarcomas. Te aim of the present study was to better under-
stand the clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and outcomes of patients with adult RMS who
received radiotherapy (RT) as a component of their multidisciplinary management since there are scarce
data on adult RMS due to its rarity.
METHODS
Te medical records of patients with adult RMS who were ≥18 years old and treated with RT between
January 1995 and August 2016 in four diferent radiation centers were evaluated in terms of clinical
characteristics, treatment, and follow-up data retrospectively.
RESULTS
Tere were 28 patients. Te median age at diagnosis was 28 (19–53) years. Te most common site of in-
volvement was the head and neck (25%), and parameningeal region involvement was prominent (92%)
among them. In general, unfavorable site of involvement was markedly higher than favorable ones (82%
vs. 18%). Alveolar and pleomorphic subtypes compromised 75% of the cases. Fifeen patients had sur-
gery, 26 chemotherapy, 10 radical intent of RT, 9 adjuvant, 3 preoperative, and 6 palliative. Te follow-up
time was from 3 to 235 (median 18) months, disease-free survival was between 2 and 48 (median 12)
months, and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 25% (median OS 20 (4–235) months). Tere were sig-
nifcant diferences in terms of survival according to histopathological subtypes (p: 0.017), risk groups
(p<0.001), Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG) grouping and IRSG staging (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Adult RMS has unfavorable clinical presentation and worse outcome compared with pediatric RMS.
Histopathological subtype and risk grouping to defne the prognosis used in pediatric cases also might
be valid in adult RMS.
Keywords: Adult rhabdomyosarcoma, Sof tissue sarcoma, Treatment, Outcomes.
Copyright © 2018, Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology
Dr. Esra KORKMAZ KIRAKLI
Dr. Suat Seren Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Cerrrahisi
Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi,
Radyasyon Onkolojisi, İzmir-Turkey
E-mail: esrakirakli@gmail.com