Children with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) (1461 total cases) were included in two prospective, randomized protocols conducted by the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) Committee from November 1972 to June 1983. Treatment assignment was determined by extent of tumor at diagnosis (clinicopathologic group) and not by primary site. Accordingly, 127 patients with RMS confined to the region of the eyelid and orbit were treated by a variety of regimens characterized by initial partial tumor resection followed by concurrent multiagent chemotherapy and orbital radiation therapy. Recurrent tumor developed in ten patients. Seven relapsed initially in the orbit (of whom 4 were salvaged) and three in regional nodes. In addition to the six patients who died of tumor, three died of other causes for a 93% 3-year actuarial survival rate. In 89 children who had subtotal resection or biopsy only, the local control rate with radiotherapy and chemotherapy was 94%.