ADULT GIANT PLEOMORPHIC RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

 

Husnoo MY1, Nurul Atiah MOHD ALI2, Sharifah Emilia TUAN SHARIF2, Wan Faisham WAN ISMAIL3, Ikhwan Sani MOHAMAD1 , Mokhzani WM1

1Department of Surgery, 2 Department of Pathology, and 3 Department of Orthopedics, School of Medical Scinces, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia

 

ABSTRACT

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumour of mesenchymal origin. Unlike in childhood and adolescence, rhabdomyosarcoma is an infrequent occurrence in adulthood, with most cases in the adult population affecting the extremities.  The prognosis for rhabdomyosarcoma in adults is generally poor due to aggressive tumour behaviour and poor response to adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. We discussed the case of a 38-year-old gentleman presenting with a progressively enlarging abdominal mass and was diagnosed with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the psoas muscle on ultrasound guided biopsy of the mass. He underwent complete resection of the primary tumour and two other retroperitoneal secondaries embedded in the sigmoid mesocolon. A third secondary mass was found to be stuck on to the abdominal aorta and unfortunately could only be partially debulked. Post-operatively the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy but refused chemotherapy. He subsequently deteriorated and passed away 3 months after surgery. We also elaborate further on the signs and symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma, its investigation and various aspects of its treatment.

 

Keywords: Adult, Case report, Psoas muscle, Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma, Retroperitoneum.

 

Correspondence Author: Mokhzani WM, Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia. Tel: +60 19349 5847, Email: mokhzani@usm.my

 

Brunei Int Med J. 2021;17:10-14 

BACK TO CONTENTS