Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of 29 cases.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor occurring more frequently in the childhood. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of rhabdomyosarcomas of the head and neck (RHNs). Twenty nine patients treated in a single institution were selected. The histological slides were reviewed and the tumors were classified. The immunohistochemical reactions were performed using antibodies against vimentin, desmin, myogenin, MyoD1, AE1/AE3, p53, PCNA, Ki67, C-erbB2, FAS and CDK4. The mean age was 14.3 years. The nonparameningeal site was affected in 16 cases (55.2%). Eleven cases (37.9%) affected parameningeal sites and 2 cases the orbit. The p53 was positive in 4 cases (13.8%), CDK4 in 10 cases (34.5%), C-erbB2 in 19 cases (70.4%), FAS in 9 cases (31%), PCNA in 28 cases (96.5%) and Ki67 in 16 cases (55.2%). The overall survival was 28.7% in 5 and 10 years, and p53 expression may be related with poor prognosis.