Sarcoma botryoides in an infant

Abstract

A 17-month-old girl with no medical history presented at our emergency room with abnormal vaginal bleeding and vaginal tissue loss with a "grape bunch" appearance. Physical examination showed no abnormalities, but gynaecological examination showed abnormal vaginal tissue protruding through the vagina introitus. Given the typical clinical presentation, the age of the girl and the location and aspect of the lesion, there was a high suspicion of the botryoid variant of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the vagina. Histology of a biopsy of the lesion was consistent with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. As no metastases were detected, the girl received chemotherapy. This case report describes the importance of early recognition of the typical clinical symptoms of sarcoma botryoides, since a rapid diagnosis followed by treatment is necessary to prevent death.

Figure 1

Vaginal tissue with a ‘grape bunch’ appearance.

Figure 2

Typical features of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with primitive cells and rhabdomyoblasts showing prominent eosinophil cytoplasm. There is nuclear expression of myogenin (inset). Mucosal epithelium is seen in the upper left.