Which of the following statements regarding rhabdomyosarcoma are true?

b. Currently recommended therapy includes complete resection of primary tumors prior to chemotherapy for small noninvasive lesions, or after documented response with more formidable primary tumors

d. Overall survival of all patients is now approximately 50%

Surgical resection of the primary tumor was the mainstay of treatment 30 years ago for rhabdomyosarcoma but only resulted in overall survival rates in the range of 20%. This improved to approximately 50% with the addition of chemotherapy. Survival is stage dependent and if all cases (both high and low risk) are included, the overall survival from rhabdomyosarcoma is now approximately 50%. Presently it is recommended that complete resection of primary tumors should be undertaken either before chemotherapy for small noninvasive lesions or after documented response with more formidable primary tumors. In certain situations where chemotherapy results in a complete or very good tumor regression, external beam radiation may be employed as a primary means of local control. Debilitating or disfiguring surgery is only performed if residual tumor is present after both chemotherapy and therapeutic irradiation. Alveolar histology is associated with a particularly poor prognosis for rhabdomyosarcoma.