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Rhabdomyosarcoma history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ;Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shadan Mehraban, M.D.[2]

Overview

Symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma can vary greatly depending on the size, location and spread of the tumor. General symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma are palpable mass, pain, erythmatous skin, fever, nasal discharge, headache, vomiting, change in hearing, vision, speech, or swallowing. Specific symptoms of parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma are headache and facial asymmetry. Symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma of orbit are proptosis and vision problems. Symptoms of pelvic or abdominal rhabdomyosarcoma are vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.

History and Symptoms

symptoms based on origin
Origin Presentation
Orbit[6] Proptosis/ dysconjugate gaze/ ophtalmoplasia
Parameningeal lesions*[7] Upper respiratory symptoms such as sinus or nasal obstruction with or without a mucopurulent or bloody discharge
Bladder Hematuria, urinary obstruction
Prostate Urinary frequency, constipation due to tumoral pressure
Paratesticular lesions Scrotal or inguinal enlargement, usually painful mass
Uterus or cervix Menorrhagia or metrorrhagia
Vagina Mucosanguineous discharge in very young girls, protrusion of polypoid mass from vagina
Extremities Painful or painless mass with or without erythematous skin

*Prameningeal lesions include masses in ear, mastoid, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, infratemporal fossa, pterygopalatine fossa.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Egas-Bejar D, Huh WW (2014). “Rhabdomyosarcoma in adolescent and young adult patients: current perspectives”. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 5: 115–25. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S44582. PMC 4069040. PMID 24966711.
  2. Kaseb H, Babiker HM. Cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma. [Updated 2018 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507721/
  3. Stevens MC, Rey A, Bouvet N, Ellershaw C, Flamant F, Habrand JL; et al. (2005). “Treatment of nonmetastatic rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood and adolescence: third study of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology–SIOP Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor 89”. J Clin Oncol. 23 (12): 2618–28. doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.08.130. PMID 15728225.
  4. Hicks J, Flaitz C (2002). “Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck in children”. Oral Oncol. 38 (5): 450–9. PMID 12110339.
  5. Shapiro E, Strother D (1992). “Pediatric genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma”. J Urol. 148 (6): 1761–8. PMID 1433603.
  6. Rao AA, Naheedy JH, Chen JY, Robbins SL, Ramkumar HL (2013). “A clinical update and radiologic review of pediatric orbital and ocular tumors”. J Oncol. 2013: 975908. doi:10.1155/2013/975908. PMC 3610355. PMID 23577029.
  7. Rahman HA, Sedky M, Mohsen I, Taha H, Loaye I, Zaghloul MS; et al. (2013). “Outcome of pediatric parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma. The Children Cancer Hospital, Egypt, experience”. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 25 (2): 79–86. doi:10.1016/j.jnci.2013.01.002. PMID 23719406.

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