Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the conjunctiva. A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the conjunctiva is a rare lesion, with few previously reported cases. We have observed such a tumor occurring in a 16-year-old girl. The clinical and pathologic entities to be considered in differential diagnosis in such cases are several; in this circumstance, immunohistologic reactivity for desmin and myoglobin (two muscle-related proteins) allows a definitive interpretation of rhabdomyosarcoma to be made. This article documents the clinicopathologic features of the epibulbar rhabdomyosarcoma seen in our patient and discusses the immunocytochemical characteristics of myogenic tumors in general, in the context of ocular neoplasia.