Stage 1 embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract: a retrospective clinical study of nine cases

BACKGROUND The aim of the study is to investigate the clinical features, treatments, and prognosis of stage 1 embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on nine cases of stage 1 embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract. Clinical characteristics, treatments, recurrence, and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS Of the nine patients with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, three originated from the vagina and six from the cervix. For the eight patients who initially received surgery, the median survival time was 88 months. As for the six patients that received adjuvant chemotherapy, five of them who received six or more cycles of treatment achieved tumor-free survival and the survival time ranged from 9 to 228 months. The remaining patient, who declined further treatment after two cycles of chemotherapy, relapsed 11 months following the surgery and died 3 months later. Out of the nine patients, only one was initially treated with chemotherapy, and achieved complete remission, but relapsed 21 months later. After a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, this patient remained tumor-free for total of 117 months. CONCLUSIONS Patients with early stage embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract have good prognosis, and the combination of surgery and chemotherapy can lead to better outcomes.