Sexual function in teenagers after multimodal treatment of pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma: A preliminary report

Abstract

Objective: The multimodal approach to treatment of genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has improved survival rates, but there is now a focus on the effect on quality of life. Our aim was to evaluate erectile function in children with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) who underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cystectomy and continent urinary diversion.

Material and methods: We evaluated four eligible patients (age > 14 years) from our genitourinary RMS database. In two patients the reservoir was constructed at the same time of the cystectomy and in two after undiversion of an ileal conduit. All patients were treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy before cystectomy. We used a questionnaire to estimate erectile function in adolescents and young adults. There were four questions, each one to be scored 1-5, assessing capability to masturbate.

Results: Mean follow up after cystectomy was 9.75 years. We considered that two patients had erections of good quality (scores 18 and 20) and two of moderate quality (scores 8 and 10). One patient had a good response to sildenafil administration.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that it is possible to keep erectile function during masturbation in children with RMS who have undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cystectomy and continent urinary diversion.