Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma abroad

The malignant neoplasm grows rapidly and metastasizes relatively early. The effectiveness of treatment is determined by a number of factors:
● Tumor morphology. With alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, the prognosis is worse than with its embryonic variant.

● Site localization. Parameningeal localization of the tumor is considered unfavorable (nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, middle ear).

● Stage of oncological disease. A small tumor that does not have metastases is cured in 80% of cases. Single metastases reduce the chances of recovery up to 30%.

The location of the node determines the local symptoms. A volumetric formation in the orbit leads to exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeball outward), in the oral cavity to a violation of diction and swallowing, in the bladder to a gradual violation (difficulty) of urination. Common symptoms include an increase in regional lymph nodes, weakness, fatigue, unmotivated weight loss up to the development of cachexia.

Tumor nodes are visualized during ultrasound, computed or magnetic resonance imaging.
In order to determine the type of neoplasm detected, the following is performed:
● Histological examination of tissue fragments obtained during an open biopsy.
● Molecular genetic studies aimed at identifying certain genes responsible for the development of certain types of rhabdomyosarcoma. For example, for the differential diagnosis of alveolar and embryonic tumors, the FOXO1 gene RNA test is performed.
Complex treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma includes:
● Surgical removal of neoplasm. It is usually the first and main stage of treatment.
● Chemotherapy. It can be prescribed both before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor, and after removal of the node to prevent recurrence and suppress the growth of metastases.
● Radiation therapy. In the treatment of rhabdomyosarcomas, brachytherapy, contact radiation therapy, when a source of radiation is introduced into the body, is actively used. The accuracy of exposure in brachytherapy is provided by computer treatment planning and systems for visual adjustment of source delivery.
● Autologous bone marrow transplant. In patients with a high risk of relapse at the stage of remission, bone marrow is taken, which is preserved for some time (frozen at liquid nitrogen temperature). During high-dose chemotherapy, tumor cells are destroyed, which can persist in the lymph nodes and other tissues of the body. In this case, the patient’s red bone marrow also dies. After the completion of chemotherapy, the patient is transplanted with a pre-preserved bone marrow. The procedure is very difficult for a person, it requires good technical equipment of the clinic and experienced staff.

An obvious advantage of treating cancer abroad is access to high-tech , innovative methods of diagnostics and therapy, which will appear at the disposal of domestic doctors (if they appear) only in 10-15 years. And the point here is not only the availability of equipment, but also the need for the accumulation of certain experience by specialists.
Experts Medical sends its patients only to trusted medical centers. As for rhabdomyosarcoma, here in the TOP-3 we placed the Ichilov Clinic (Tel Aviv, Israel), which is a leading medical center in the field of oncology, the Shishli Memorial Clinic (Istanbul, Turkey), the high competence of Memorial doctors in the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma was proved by the results of treatment of our patients, as well as the Sant Joan de Deu Clinic, which is a recognized world center for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma in children.