Rhabdomyosarcomas are rare in the head and neck, but it is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. The authors analysed 74 patients of all ages attended at A. C. Camargo Hospital from 1976 to 1996. They were submitted to many combinations of treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After univariated analysis, patient's age and size of tumor were identifíed as prognostic fators to disease-free survival (DFS); age, size of tumor and histologic type were identified as prognostic factors to the global survival (GS). After multiv@ated analysis, patients age, site of origin and size of tumor were identified as important to establish the DFS and the GS. The DFS was 43,2 por cento for 3 years, 40,4 por cento for 5 years and 40 por cento for l O years; the overall survival was 52,7 por cento for 3 years, 42,7 por cento for S years and 40 por cento for 10 years