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Case Reports
. 2024 Dec 9;108(1):110.
doi: 10.5334/jbsr.3797. eCollection 2024.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Maxilla

Karel Mercken  1 , Maarten Steyvers  1 , Robert Hermans  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Maxilla

Karel Mercken et al. J Belg Soc Radiol. .

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children but is less frequent in adults, with the head and neck region as primary site. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred diagnostic imaging tool, though its imaging characteristics are relatively non‑specific and overlap with other soft tissue sarcomas. The prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma depends on the primary tumour site and size, with parameningeal head and neck localisations having a less favourable prognosis due to the higher risk of spread. Therefore, further imaging including brain and spinal MRI is recommended. Teaching point: The prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma depends on the primary tumour site and size, with parameningeal head and neck localisations having a less favourable prognosis due to the higher risk of spread.

Keywords: head and neck; maxilla; parameningeal; pediatric; rhabdomyosarcoma; soft tissue sarcoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

gingival hyperemia and bleeding
Figure 1
Soft tissue swelling with gingival hyperemia and bleeding in the right maxilla around element 11 and 12.
CT and PET‑CT showing an osteolytic maxillar lesion with enhancement and FDG‑uptake
Figure 2
Axial and sagittal CT images (A–C) and axial PET–CT image (D) showing an osteolytic lesion with heterogeneous contrast enhancement in the right maxilla, with palatal cortical erosion and with high FDG uptake.
MRI of an enhancing lesion in the maxillary sinus extending to the nasoethmoidal region and masticator region
Figure 3
(A–B) MRI sequences (T2, T1C(−), T1C(+)) showing a lesion in the left maxillary sinus extending to the nasoethmoidal region and retromaxillary tissues. The tumour appears T2 hyperintense, T1 isointense (with focal T1 hyperintensities due to recent haemorrhage; arrows) and with heterogeneous contrast enhancement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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