Prosthetic rehabilitation for a patient treated for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Abstract

A female patient, now aged 17 years, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in the right pterygopalatine fossa when she was 3 years old. The RMS was successfully treated by excision, but the subsequent radiation and polychemotherapy resulted in the complete anesthesia of the distribution area of the right trigeminal nerve and loss of vision in the right eye. The patient also experienced pain in the mandibular joints and masticatory muscles. Panoramic radiographs displayed a multiple agenesia of the permanent teeth and underdeveloped apices. Treatment involved the fabrication of a complete maxillary denture. A removable device was fabricated to evaluate her response to an occlusal vertical dimension increase of 6 mm and provide a stable intercuspal position. After wearing the prosthesis for 6 months, the patient reported that she was completely free of symptoms.