Rhabdomyosarcoma of the middle ear and mastoid

Abstract

Three cases of rhabdomyosarcoma in the region of the middle ear are presented, bringing to 40 the number of cases reported in the literature. After clinico-pathologic analysis of all cases, the biologic behavior of this neoplasm in this region is best characterized as extremely lethal, with the longest survival being only 23 months after diagnosis. At present, there is no mode of therapy that offers a potential for “cure.”