Recurrent fetal rhabdomyoma of the head and neck

Abstract

We present a case of a congenital fetal rhabdomyoma which recurred after surgical excision. A review of the patient's chart, imaging studies, operative reports and histologic findings were conducted. A congenital fetal rhabdomyoma involving the head and neck region diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound and MRI was surgically excised without complications. The patient presented with recurrence of the tumor fourteen months after the initial surgery. This case report is supplemented with a review of the relevant literature on congenital fetal rhabdomyoma. This is the fifth documented case of recurrence of a fetal rhabdomyoma. Extracardiac rhabdomyomas are extremely rare benign tumors. Complete excision of these lesions is curative with only a handful of recurrences documented in the literature. Close follow up and a complete workup to rule out rhabdomyosarcoma is warranted in all cases of recurrence.