Current management of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma

Objectives Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for 7-10% of genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma tumors and is the 3rd most common after RMS of the prostate and bladder. Though most (60%–80%) patients with paratesticular rhabdomysarcoma present with localized disease, assessment of systemic disease is vital. The treatment of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma has evolved over several decades; the current standard of care is multimodal treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. We give insight into the evolution of treatment, present the oncologic outcomes of seminal studies, and summarize the current recommendations for the management of these patients. Methods A comprehensive search of the literature on the electronic databases PubMed was conducted for management of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma. Case reports were excluded, clinical trials from all the oncologic society were reviewed and relevant articles are included in the review. Results The treatment regimen is based on following principles: (1) local control of the primary site with radical orchiectomy and (2) assessment of local control and distant sites. Further treatment is directed according to disease stage, histology, and age of the patient. The goal of treatment is to achieve cure or maximum tumor control while minimizing toxicity. Conclusions With the changing landscape in the management of paratesticular rhabomyosarcoma, significant improvement is evident in the oncologic outcomes. Further advance in genomic testing would lead us to tailor treatment based on individual risk factors and minimize long-term side effects.