Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Uterus: A Rare Case

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon, malignant soft-tissue tumor that is rarely found in the female genital tract. This is a rapidly growing tumor with an intermediate prognosis and is usually found in adults and adolescents. Multimodality approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, are advocated to improve the survival of patients. Case: A 19-year-old nulliparous female presented with a huge pelvic mass, fever, and obstructive uropathy. Exploratory laprotomy, followed by total abdominal hysterectomy with an omental biopsy were performed. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry supported a diagnosis of an alveolar variant of rhabdomyosarcoma. A regimen of chemotherapy—vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide—was administered to this patient in three cycles. Results: As of this writing, the patient is asymptomatic and is doing well. Conclusions: With the introduction of effective adjunctive treatment, preservation of fertility should be the major goal. This it involves removal of the bulk of the tumor with maximal conservation of anatomical structures. (J GYNECOL SURG 31:22)