OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the clinicopathologic features of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the oral and maxillofacial region in Jordanians.

STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected from records of patients treated between 1989 and 2000 at the Maxillofacial Unit of Jordan University of Science and Technology. The main outcome measures were age, gender, location, stage of disease, histopathologic type, treatment received, follow-up period, and eventual outcome.

RESULTS: Nine patients with RMS aged 4 to 17 years were found, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Six (67%) bony sites and 7 (78%) soft tissue sites were involved. The extent of disease was locoregional in 8 (89%) cases, nodal in 3 (33%) cases, and distant metastatic in 2 (22%) cases. The Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study classification of clinical groups was as follows: 2 (22%) cases in stage II, 5 (56%) cases in stage III, and 2 (22%) cases in stage IV. The histopathologic types found were 6 (67%) embryonal, 2 (22%) alveolar, and 1 (11%) undifferentiated. Triple agent chemotherapy was used in the treatment of 8 cases, singly or in combination with surgery or radiotherapy. Two patients are still alive, and 5 patients have died of disease.

CONCLUSIONS: The clinicopathologic features of maxillofacial RMS in this group of Jordanians are different from those of people from other countries. Further studies are needed to have a better understanding of the behavior of RMS in the oral and maxillofacial area.