Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcomas constitute about two thirds of soft tissue sarcomas in children, but a much smaller proportion after the first decade3.

Rhabdomyosarcomas are subdivided into:

• Embryonal - occurring in young children:

  • botryoid

  • spindle cell

• Alveolar - occurring in older children and young adults

  • includes a solid variant

• Pleomorphic - occurring in older adults (although embryonal and alveolar outnumber pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas, even in those over 16 years of age)1,2.

• Sclerosing: this is a rare provisional subtype

1Esnaola, N. F., B. P. Rubin, et al. (2001). "Response to chemotherapy and predictors of survival in adult rhabdomyosarcoma." Ann Surg 234(2): 215-23.

2Hawkins, W. G., A. Hoos, et al. (2001). "Clinicopathologic analysis of patients with adult rhabdomyosarcoma." Cancer 91(4): 794-803.

3Mentzel, T. and D. Katenkamp (2000). "Sclerosing, pseudovascular rhabdomyosarcoma in adults. Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of three cases." Virchows Arch 436(4): 305-11.

This page last revised 26.12.2003

©SMUHT/PW Bishop