Diagnostic value of ultrasound parameters combined with clinical features in children with alveolar and non- alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in clinical and ultrasound findings between alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and non-ARMS in order to improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of ARMS in children.

Material and methods: A retrospective study of 33 children with pathologically confirmed RMS (ARMS and non-ARMS groups) was realized.  Clinical features and ultrasound parameters were compared between ARMS and non-ARMS using Fisher 's exact test analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were used to represent diagnostic performance.

Results: Among the clinical features, there were statistically significant differences between ARMS and non-ARMS groups in site (p=0.020), TNM stage (p=0.007), IRS stage (p=0.009), risk grade (p=0.011), and distant metastasis (p=0.020). There were statistical differences in necrosis (p= p0.039) and central hyperechoic fiber bundles (p<0.001) between the two groups. The combination of ultrasound and clinical characteristics demonstrated excellent predictive ability (AUC was 0.964).

Conclusions: Children with ARMS more often present with poor prognosis, and combined clinical and ultrasound features are helpful for preoperative identification of ARMS and providing imaging evidence for accurate clinical diagnosis and treatment.