About 3% of all childhood cancers are rhabdomyosarcomas. About 350 new cases of rhabdomyosarcoma occur each year in the United States.

Most rhabdomyosarcomas are diagnosed in children and teenagers. About 6 out of 10 of these tumors are diagnosed in children under the age of 10. These tumors are usually embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas and occur in the head, neck, and genital and urinary tracts. Adolescents are more likely than younger children to have alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas, which are found more often in the arms, legs, or trunk.

The number of new cases has not changed much over the past few decades. This disease is slightly more common in boys than in girls. There is no particular geographic location or ethnic group that has an unusually high rate of rhabdomyosarcoma.

The prognosis (outlook) for people with rhabdomyosarcoma depends on many factors, including the location, type, and size of the tumor, the results of surgery, and whether the cancer has metastasized (spread). Children aged 1 to 9 tend to have a better outlook than infants or older children or adults. Statistics related to survival are discussed in the section, "How is rhabdomyosarcoma staged?"

Last Medical Review: 09/08/2009
Last Revised: 09/08/2009