Rhabdomyosarcoma (staging)

Staging of rhabdomyosarcoma is based on the Lawrence/Gehan Staging System which comprises of a combination of pretreatment staging and postoperative clinical grouping.

Stage
  • stage I: orbit, eyelid, head and neck (excluding parameningeal), genitourinary (non-bladder, non-prostate), N0 or 1, M0
  • stage II: bladder, prostate, extremity, trunk, parameningeal, other, <5 cm, N0, M0
  • stage III: Bladder, prostate, extremity, trunk, parameningeal, other, >5 cm, N0 or 1, M0
  • stage IV: all others, any N, M1

IRS group postsurgical pathologic grouping
  • group I
    • Ia: confined to organ of origin or muscle, completely resected (clear margins, negative regional nodes)
    • Ib: local extension beyond to organ or muscle of origin, completely resected (clear margins, negative regional nodes)
  • group II
    • IIa: microscopic disease remaining at margins : negative regional nodes
    • IIb: positive regional nodes, negative margins
    • IIc: microscopic disease remaining at margins and positive regional nodes
  • group III: incomplete resection or biopsy findings indicating gross residual disease
  • group IV: distant metastases