Orofacial rhabdomyosarcoma: report of a case and review of the literature

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are among the most common soft-tissue tumors in children. These tumors are derived from mesenchymal tissue with a tendency toward myogenic differentiation that probably originates from immature and highly invasive satellite cells associated with the embryogenesis of skeletal muscle. Some of these tumors are associated with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. The diagnosis is made by microscopic analysis and auxiliary techniques such as immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, cytogenetic analysis, and molecular biology. We report here a case of orofacial RMS in a 4- year-old child and provide an updated review of the literature, focusing mainly on the clinicopathological aspects, diagnosis and treatment of RMS of the head and neck.