Synchronous bifocal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

Exceptional case of a hemangioma-like rabdomyosarcoma in the hand's palm

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor in children that might mimic a benign tumor, such as infantile hemangioma, particularly when detected early. Although rhabdomyosarcoma rarely occurs in the hand, its prognosis is generally poor, and successful treatment relies on a complete and radical surgical excision. We present a case of rhabdomyosarcoma located in the palm of an infant's hand, initially presenting clinical and radiological features suggestive of a vascular tumor. The resection of this mass was radical, and histological analysis and immunohistochemistry returned in favor of embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma. In similar cases recorded in the literature, the diagnosis may be first mistaken for that of a hemangioma, then confirmed by histology. This underlines the importance of a systematic anatomopathological examination of all tissues removed surgically.

Massive Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Hand in an Infant With Metastasis at Birth: Management Dilemma

BACKGROUND

Rhabdomyosarcomas are malignant tumors arising from striated muscle but can be often confused with primitive neuroectodermal tumors and Ewing sarcoma. They are often classified based on age of presentation and histological features. Three major types of rhabdomyosarcomas are embryonal, alveolar, and pleomorphic with characteristic presentations.

METHOD

Here, we present a case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in the hand of a 5-month-old child with lymphatic metastasis, the age, site, and metastasis being unusual feature for this type of rhabdomyosarcoma.

RESULT

The child succumbed to the complications soon after initiation of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Age, site, metastasis at birth and treatment related complications contribute to the poor outcome.

Pediatric soft tissue sarcomas

After a brief discussion of the rarity of soft tissue sarcomas in children and of the limited ability of magnetic resonance imaging to provide a tissue diagnosis, this article discusses the incidence, presentation, treatment, prognosis, and imaging characteristics of the more common and unusual pediatric soft tissue sarcomas. It begins with extensive discussion of rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and congenital/infantile fibrosarcoma. It then presents a more abbreviated discussion of uncommon tumors such as alveolar soft part sarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma, extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma, granulocytic sarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and undifferentiated sarcoma.