Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the oral soft tissues

Abstract

A clinicopathologic study of eleven cases of histologically confirmed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the oral soft tissues is presented. The patients were principally in the younger age groups, and the tumor most often presented as a painless mass. Such symptoms as pain, dysphonia, dysphagia, trismus, and physical debilitation usually were identified with later stages of the disease. The gross specimens exhibited no characteristic feature by which a diagnosis could be made. Although composed of a variety of cell types and patterns, this tumor has certain histologic features related to cell morphology and staining characteristics which allow a positive diagnosis; however, the presence of striations in tumor cells, although helpful in diagnosis, is not to be considered a sine qua non. Six tumors in this series exhibited cytoplasmic striations. The embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma may be markedly radiosensitive, and radiation therapy can be a most effective adjunct to surgical treatment.