Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma in Chilean children: a report on 2 cases

Abstract

Introduction: The treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) requires a multidisciplinary approach, within which radiotherapy plays a major role. International studies (the International Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group -IRSS) have proved that modern conformal radiotherapy has an impact on both local control and survival. The results in Chile have not reached the same rates of control, we envisage that the radiotherapy technique used in these treatments might be related to this difference. 

Objective: to describe the different radiotherapy techniques which are currently available in Chile and to emphasis the importance of using modern techniques. 

Material and method: a retrospective analysis based on a representive case for each of the modern radiotherapy approaches, i.e. brachytherapy and conformal radiotherapy. 

Conclusions: It is currently possible to use techniques with the same quality criteria as the IRSG on all habdomyosarcoma patients in Chile. This should have an impact on local control and survival, allowing us to obtain results comparable to those in international studies.