1. Head and Neck Rhabdomyosarcoma in Pediatric Patients: An International Collaborative Study.
- Author
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Gallagher KPD, Hunter KD, Arboleda LPA, Pedroso CM, Mariz BALA, Penafort PVM, Souza LL, Rodrigues-Fernandes CI, Tager EMJR, Carlos R, Robinson L, Schouwstra CM, Villanueva-Sánchez FG, Gómez FJP, Del Carmen González-Galván M, Martins-de-Barros AV, de Vasconcelos Carvalho M, Cavalcante RB, Turatti E, Pontes HAR, Siqueira SAC, Mendonça RMH, Innocentini LMAR, de Macedo LD, Ribeiro-Silva A, Abrahão AC, Romañach MJ, van Heerden W, Vargas PA, and Santos-Silva AR
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Child, Female, Child, Preschool, Adolescent, Brazil epidemiology, Infant, South Africa, Guatemala, Myogenin analysis, Myogenin metabolism, Mexico, Biomarkers, Tumor analysis, Desmin analysis, Immunohistochemistry, International Cooperation, Ki-67 Antigen analysis, MyoD Protein, Rhabdomyosarcoma pathology, Head and Neck Neoplasms pathology
- Abstract
Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a rare malignant tumor, frequently affects pediatric patients, with 35%-40% occurring in the head and neck. This study analyzes the clinicopathologic profile of pediatric head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas from Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa., Methods: We reviewed 44 cases from 10 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology services, conducting immunohistochemical analyses of desmin, myogenin, Myo-D1, and Ki67, with quantification via QuPath software. Cases with ≥ 50% myogenin expression were tested for fusion status using AP2β, NOS-1, and HMGA2. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test for age and marker expression comparisons, Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, Spearman's rank correlation for marker relationships, and multinomial logistic regression to assess fusion status likelihood., Results: Cases were predominantly from Brazil (40.9%), followed by South Africa (27.3%), Guatemala (22.7%), and Mexico (9.1%). Two-thirds of patients were diagnosed in their first decade with no gender predilection. Nonparameningeal sites (45.5%) were more affected than parameningeal (40.9%) and orbital sites. Microscopically, embryonal RMS (77.3%) was most common, followed by alveolar (18.2%) and spindle cell (2.3%) tumors. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for myogenic markers, with significant differences in myogenin expression between embryonal and alveolar RMS variants (p < 0.05). Fusion status prediction identified two potential fusion-positive alveolar RMS cases, while all embryonal RMS and one alveolar RMS case appeared fusion-negative. Significant correlation with positive fusion status was found only between AP2β and NOS1 (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Although there are slight clinical-demographic variations among pediatric head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas in these regions, identifying fusion status through immunohistochemistry remains a diagnostic challenge., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2025
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