Abstract
Rhabdomyoma is an uncommon benign mesenchymal tumor with skeletal muscle differentiation that may occur either in the heart or in extracardiac sites. Even though the head and neck region is the most common area of extracardiac rhabdomyoma, the larynx is rarely involved. We present the case of an 85-year-old woman who reported a 10-day history of breathing difficulties, dysphagia, and dysphonia. A computed tomography scan of the head and neck showed a contrast-enhanced, solid hypopharyngeal-laryngeal neoplasm with well-defined margins causing subtotal obliteration of the right pyriform sinus and a reduction in air lumen of the laryngeal vestibule. The patient underwent complete endoscopic removal of the lesion; histologic examination revealed an adult-type rhabdomyoma based on the histologic features and the immunoreactivity of the neoplastic cells for desmin, myoglobin, and muscle-specific actin but not for cytokeratin, S-100, CD68R, chromogranin-A, and synaptophysin. Since clinical and imaging features are not specific for rhabdomyoma, histologic examination and immunohistochemical analyses play a central role in the differential diagnosis of the adult-type rhabdomyoma from other laryngeal neoplasms. A correct diagnosis is mandatory to avoid inappropriate treatment.
Highlights
Rhabdomyoma (RM) is an uncommon benign mesenchymal tumor showing skeletal muscle di erentiation that may occur in cardiac and extracardiac locations [1]
We describe the clinicopathologic features of an adult-type RM of the larynx diagnosed in an 85-year-old woman and review the pertinent literature with the speci c aim to assess the
Adult-type RM usually occurs as a solitary lesion in adulthood, is more frequent in men than in women, and more frequently involves the glottic and supraglottic regions [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38]
Summary
Adult-Type Rhabdomyoma of the Larynx: Clinicopathologic Study of an Uncommon Tumor in a Rare Location. Rhabdomyoma is an uncommon benign mesenchymal tumor with skeletal muscle di erentiation that may occur either in the heart or in extracardiac sites. Even though the head and neck region is the most common area of extracardiac rhabdomyoma, the larynx is rarely involved. E patient underwent complete endoscopic removal of the lesion; histologic examination revealed an adult-type rhabdomyoma based on the histologic features and the immunoreactivity of the neoplastic cells for desmin, myoglobin, and muscle-speci c actin but not for cytokeratin, S-100, CD68R, chromogranin-A, and synaptophysin. Since clinical and imaging features are not speci c for rhabdomyoma, histologic examination and immunohistochemical analyses play a central role in the di erential diagnosis of the adult-type rhabdomyoma from other laryngeal neoplasms.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
